Bulacan ambush: P2 million offered for arrest of gunmen

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines — A cash reward of P2 million has been offered in exchange for information that can lead to the arrest of the gunmen who killed a consultant of a congressional aspirant and two others in San Rafael, Bulacan on Friday.

The reward was raised by friends and associates of the victims – Bryan Villaflor, his girlfriend Jam and his security aide Jayvee Mariano.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, Central Luzon police director, said probers have obtained video footage from a closed-circuit television camera installed at the scene of the crime, showing the license plate of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) used by the assailants.

Fajardo said if the result of the investigation would show that the attack was politically motivated, the police would recommend to the Commission on Elections to classify the town as an area of concern for the May 12 polls.

The victims were in a Ford Everest on their way to Baliwag when gunmen in a black SUV waylaid them along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Capihan.

Mariano and Villaflor died at the scene of the attack while Jam was declared dead on arrival in a hospital in Baliwag.

Villaflor was an IT consultant and social media operator of Victor Silverio, who is running for congressman in the third district of Bulacan.

Meanwhile, Fajardo said she would summon the chief of the San Rafael police over complaints that he ordered video footage of the incident taken by members of the media deleted.

A local broadcast journalist had asked Fajardo if police are authorized to confiscate the cameras and delete video footage and photos taken during coverage of a crime incident such as the ambush in San Rafael.

Fajardo said it was the first time for her to receive a complaint involving a police chief who ordered the confiscation and deletion of videos or photos taken by journalists.

Fajardo, who is also spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, said the PNP has no policy banning media from taking footage of a crime incident.

She said she would wait for the official complaint to be filed before taking action on the matter.