Cop slain, daughter hurt in Laguna ambush

BIÑAN CITY, Laguna, Philippines   â€“ The head of the administration office of this city’s police station was killed while his daughter was wounded in an attack staged by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Sto. Domingo here yesterday morning.

Senior Inspector Jerry Uy of the Biñan police was declared dead on arrival at the provincial hospital, according to Superintendent Rizalito Gapas, city police chief.

Gapas said Uy’s daughter, Debbie, 17, was declared out of danger as of press time.

He said Uy was driving his daughter to school on a motorcycle when two men shot at the victims at about 6:45 a.m. Gapas said after the attack, the gunmen escaped on a motorcycle.

“We are studying all possible angles in the attack, including whether it was work-related,” Gapas said.

Sources said Uy had earned the ire of video karera operators after the city police stepped up the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling in the city.

In Cagayan, a village councilman was killed while his wife, who was a barangay chairman, was wounded when unidentified gunmen ambushed them in Aparri on Sunday.

Danilo Balao, 53, died from three gunshot wounds in the body while his wife, Elena, 54, suffered a bullet wound in the leg.

The Balaos were on their way home on a motorcycle when they were attacked in Barangay Maura, according to Chief Inspector Alfonso Urmatam, town police chief.

Urmatam said Balao, although wounded, managed to continue driving to seek help from a friend who lives nearby, while their attackers fled.

The couple was rushed to the Selby Memorial Hospital, where the councilman died while being treated.

Urmatam said they were eyeing land dispute and black sand quarrying as possible motives for the attack.

Meanwhile, three civilians were killed while another was wounded when unidentified armed men shot at a passenger jeepney in Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan on Saturday, the military reported yesterday.

Amir Saribin, 21; Halim Randa, 18; and Hadji Alih Ibrahim, 38, died at the scene while Haber Cuevas was brought to a hospital in Isabela City for treatment, according to Capt. Jefferson Mamauag, spokesman for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

The victims were heading for Lamitan City when at least 20 gunmen attacked them in Barangay Bohe Baca at about 7:30 a.m.

The military said clan war was the motive for the attack.                – With Raymund Catindig