Road rage eyed in Chinese man’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators are eyeing road rage as the motive for the attack on a Chinese man and his companion Friday night, officials said yesterday.

Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte said victims Chen Li Jun and Zhao Zhi Jun were riding a car from a hotel in Manila when they were chased from Malate to Balagtas street in Barangay 54, Pasay City and shot by still unidentified assailants in another car at past midnight Friday.

Chen died of gunshot wounds in the neck and back while Zhao suffered a gunshot wound in the leg.

Pasay police chief Senior Superintendent Florencio Ortilla said while the issue of jurisdiction has yet to be resolved, the accounts of Zhao and his companions indicate the incident was an offshoot of a traffic altercation.

The incident was initially investigated by the Manila Police District Station 9 but its investigators turned over the case to the Pasay City police due to issues involving jurisdiction.

The Manila police said the shooting happened in Pasay but officials of Barangay 54 said they have no report of the crime.

“We heard about the killing. It was a car chase and we cannot really determine the crime scene but it did not happen in our barangay, “ Abdul Munat, chairman of Barangay 54, told The STAR.

He said barangay watchmen deployed along Balagtas street did not hear gunshots at past midnight Friday.