Information technology firm executive killed in Pasig ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Two motorcycle-riding gunmen shot dead an information technology firm’s sales manager during a broad daylight ambush in Pasig City yesterday.

The victim, Liberty Liwanag, 40, was driving to the Axus Innovation Technologies Inc. office at the Antel Global Corporate Center on Julia Vargas Avenue to attend to an important meeting at around 11 a.m. when one of the suspects blocked the path of her vehicle at the corner of Julia Vargas Avenue and Lanuza street, according to Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan.

Reports reaching Calingasan stated that Liwanag was in a white Toyota RAV4 (XPE-377) when one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and shot her repeatedly. She sustained gunshot wounds in her chest and left shoulder. Cigarette vendor Alex Raposas said he heard successive gunshots and turned in that direction. “The witness saw the gunman running away from the victim’s vehicle, boarding a motorcycle which sped off towards C-5 Road,” Calingasan said.

After being hit by bullets, Liwanag lost control of her vehicle and rammed it into the center island. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) rescue workers rushed Liwanag to the Medical City hospital, where she died while being treated.

Responding Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered three shells from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Calingasan directed the Pasig City police to dig deeper into the background of Liwanag, a mother of two children, to determine the motive behind her murder.

Liwanag’s employer and her sister refused to issue any official statement regarding her death.