Stall ownership dispute eyed in mall shooting

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) is looking into stall ownership dispute as a possible motive in the killing of businessman Edilberto Pornobe at a mall in Divisoria on Saturday.

Pornobe, 60, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in front of his stall on the second floor of 999 Mall. His wife, Maria Teresa, was wounded after being hit by a stray bullet.

Superintendent Amante Daro, commander of the MPD Station 11, said they were eyeing stall ownership dispute as the mall management allegedly allowed Pornobe to rent at least 21 stalls while the contracts of other businessmen were not renewed.

Daro said they received information that the victim had been at odds with other stall occupants.

A source told The STAR that prior to the shooting, a person had warned Pornobe’s son that “someone was out to kill him.”

“We have leads on the case,” Daro said. He refused to elaborate so as not to pre-empt the probe.

The source said MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel would request Mayor Joseph Estrada to shut down the mall and cancel its permit.

Police noted that the management of the mall was lax in implementing security measures.

“We have called the management’s attention regarding this,” Daro said.

Investigation showed that the gunmen passed through an unguarded entrance of the mall’s Building B and proceeded to the second floor where Pornobe’s stall was located.

Daro said they would file a complaint for obstruction of justice against the mall’s management after they refused to give the police closed-circuit television footage of the incident.