Aguirre not alarmed by shooting of aide’s car

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II sees no reason to be alarmed over the shooting of a vehicle of his security aide on Tuesday.

“Based on ballistic tests, the bullet had no direct impact so it appeared to be unintentional,” Aguirre told reporters yesterday in Cagayan de Oro City where he was to deliver a speech before the Philippine Trial Judges League Inc. on behalf of President Duterte.

“Di ko binibigyan ng importansya yun (I do not give importance to that). It might be just an accident, a pure accident,” he added.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said a stray bullet hit the vehicle of Senior Inspector Ricardo Marasigan.

He was on his way to Aguirre’s residence in Parañaque City at around 5:30 a.m. when the incident occurred. 

Marasigan said he felt something hit the back of his Hyundai Eon. He later found out that the headlight was damaged by a gunshot.

Quoting the NBI report, Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the bullet did not penetrate the passenger seat because it had no impact.