Probers: Don’t link Taguig ex-official’s slay to politics

MANILA, Philippines - It is too early to link politics to the murder of a former Taguig City government official Friday, city police chief Senior Superintendent Art Asis said yesterday.

“Let us not make false and misleading conclusions here. We are talking about a life that was taken. It would be very unfair to the victim and his family to link this to politics when we do not have evidence yet,” he said.

A still unidentified gunman shot dead Jeffrey Minglana, 40, former head of the city government’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), as he was driving a motorcycle on his way home to Upper Bicutan at past 5 p.m.

Investigators said the gunman used a .45 caliber pistol, hitting Minglana four times before fleeing on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.

‘Professional hit’

Asis said the shooting appears to be a “professional hit,” although the victim’s family claims that the victim has no known enemies. Asis added that even the victim’s cell phone did not contain threatening messages.

“Let me assure everybody that the police will investigate this incident thoroughly and will leave no stones unturned,” he said.

Police said Minglana was shot in front of the Heaven’s Door school. He was brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital but he was declared dead within minutes after the attack.

Investigators are trying to compel establishments near the crime scene to surrender closed-circuit television camera footage that could help them identify the shooter and his accomplice.

Minglana was the BPLO head under the administration of then Taguig mayor, now Taguig Rep. Sigfrido Tiñga. Minglana was removed as BPLO head in 2010 when the city’s administration changed.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano meanwhile condemned the shooting as she called on the city’s police to immediately solve the case.