Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) — Police will file complaints against eight suspects in the ambush on a photojournalist, including a former barangay chairman tagged as the mastermind and the alleged gunman who’s already in custody.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director PBGen Nicolas Torre III said they will file murder and frustrated murder complaints on Wednesday before the Office of the City Prosecutor.
A photo of the former barangay official, who is supposedly from Pasay, was shown to the media – although his name was concealed. Torre said they will reveal the identity of all the suspects once the complaints are filed.
Remate Online photojournalist Joshua Abiad, two of his family members, and a bystander survived the June 29 attack in Quezon City after suffering gunshot wounds. However, the incident killed Abiad’s four-year-old nephew.
READ: 4-year-old nephew of photojournalist dies after QC ambush
According to the QCPD, the ex-barangay chairman – alias “Nanad” – is believed to have a personal grudge against Abiad, who was “supposedly associated with people who are always lambasting” him.
“Ang paniniwala niya, si Josh ang source ng information na ‘yun [He believes Josh was the source of those information],” Torre said, but clarified this is just one of the possible motives being considered.
Meanwhile, police have arrested one of the suspected gunmen identified as Eduardo Almario Legazpi II, alias “Bingbong.” He was the only one named so far out of all suspects.
Torre said they have separately filed complaints against Legazpi for illegal possession of firearms and explosives before the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office.
He added that the seven other suspects, including a dismissed police officer, have gone into hiding.
“Lahat ng ito ay under manhunt na…Kung tingin nila hindi sila involved dyan, they can always contact us, surrender to authorities habang wala pa silang mga warrant,” Torre said.
[Translation: All of them are now subjects of a manhunt. If they’re not involved, they can always contact us, surrender to authorities while warrants have not yet been issued against them.]
