Taxman ambushed in Valenzuela

A Valenzuela City district revenue officer was seriously wounded when he was ambushed by at least two unidentified gunmen near his office Friday afternoon.

Valenzuela City police chief Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio identified the victim as lawyer Ernesto de Vota, 55, a resident of Meycauayan, Bulacan.

De Vota sustained gunshot wounds in the left shoulder and right arm and is confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Senior Police Officer 2 Jesus Sagisi said De Vota was driving his white Toyota Corona (ETJ-333) along Balubaran Road in Barangay Malinta when he was attacked at around 2:20 p.m. He had just left the Valenzuela-Bureau of Internal Revenue office and was on his way home.

“The victim slowed down upon reaching the uphill portion of the road when two men approached him. One of the men fired at the victim several times,” Sagisi told The STAR.

He said the gunmen acted like “they were greenhorns“ for being indecisive and they hastily fled after the shooting.

“Most of the bullets only hit the victim’s car windshield shattering it in the process,” Sagisi said.

A taxi driver who was following De Vota’s vehicle brought him to the Our Lady of Fatima hospital for treatment but his relatives later decided to transfer De Vota to the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“The victim’s wounds are not really life-threatening. He is now safe,” Sagisi said.

The Northern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operatives (NPD-SOCO) recovered five empty shells from a 9mm pistol at the crime scene.

Sagisi said the slay try on De Vota could be work-related but they are still investigating other possible angles.

He said that prior to the ambush, De Vota never mentioned if he received any threats to his safety.