Manhunt on for EARIST official’s attacker

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday admitted it launched a manhunt for the unidentified man who ambushed the president of the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Technology (EARIST) in Paco, Manila last week.

Editha Pillo was seated in the front passenger seat of her Toyota Fortuner (NBN-5033) at the corner of Antonio Isip and Pedro Gil streets when a motorcycle-riding assailant shot at them four times through the driver’s side window just before 5 a.m. on May 2, the MPD said.

The assailant sped away toward Quirino Avenue while Pillo and her driver, Choy Buenvenida, rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital. No updates were provided on their condition.

MPD public information chief Lt. Col. Carlo Magno Manuel said the investigators assigned to the case deliberately withheld information so as not to undermine their investigation.

“We are looking at the possibility that the slay attempt was work-related, but we are not also discounting the possibility that the target was the driver. Whatever it is, our men are now working on the case and are looking for a person of interest,” Magno said.

An engineer by profession, Pillio was appointed EARIST president in November 2014 and was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Two EARIST officials were ambushed in previous years. Executive vice president Noel Cabrera was shot dead in 2012 and administrative officer Alvin Asuncion was killed in 2010.