MANILA, Philippines – The son of a woman victim of the Nueva Ecija bus shooting is being viewed as a “person of interest” in the case, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The victim and his partner were shot dead by unidentified gunmen while being transported in the town of Carranglan on Wednesday afternoon.
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the victims and the son were embroiled in a conflict that escalated to the point where the victim filed a battery case against his son.
The PNP official did not reveal the nature of the conflict or the identity of the son and the victims, but confirmed that the latter were long-term life and business partners.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this is a possible motive as the conflict and filing of the lawsuit between the two occurred prior to the incident. In fact, the case was on the blotter and the victim’s son had just been released on bail,” Fajardo said during a news conference on Thursday, in a mix of Filipino and English.
“Investigators have already talked to the son, but he said he didn’t know anything. “The police in Nueva Ecija received information from the victim’s siblings who claim that there was an alleged threat from their son,” she added.
Fajardo added that the victim was a Cauayan resident, Isabela, and her partner was from Cotabato.
The PNP official assured that they are already withdrawing surveillance installed in nearby areas to track the suspects.
She added that the police also do not rule out that the attackers belonged to a group renting weapons, given how “professionally” they used weapons.
RELATED STORIES
Two passengers shot dead on a bus traveling in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija
Medical student attacked and shot by classmate in Tuguegarao
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
