Hired killers eyed in Navotas jail officer's slay

MANILA, Philippines - Police investigators are eyeing the possible involvement of hired killers in the ambush-killing of a Navotas City jail officer along Narciso St. East Canumay, Valenzuela City shortly before noon Monday.

Chief Inspector Danilo Bugay, Valenzuela Police Station Investigation Division chief said the suspects apparently trailed the vehicle of the victim, Jail Officer 2 Bernabe Susano and staged the daring ambush when the vehicle stopped on a traffic light.

“The two suspects used machine pistols in the attack and fled on board a Toyota Innova vehicle,” he said. He said the witness failed to get the plate number. Unconfirmed reports said the victim was involved in a land dispute against a party who is a relative of a powerful politician in Camanava. Bugay, however, played down the land dispute saying that it’s a remote angle. He said they are all looking for several possible angles, including the role of the victim in the Deparo Express Association based in Bagongbong, Caloocan City.

Susano was driving his dark green Nissan Urvan (ZHN 645) with two passengers when two men armed with pistols successively shot his vehicle along Narciso Street in East Canumay district in Valenzuela City.

The suspects emptied their pistols at the victims, which included the two women passengers and fled to an unknown direction.

Responding police officers brought the victims to the Valenzuela General hospital where Susano was declared dead upon arrival and one of his women passengers died while undergoing treatment at the same hospital.