House of TV talk show host inside UP campus strafed

MANILA, Philippines - Armed men strafed the house of IBC-13 talk show host Randy David inside the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City on Tuesday night.

The slugs recovered were reportedly from a .9 mm gun.

Quezon City police station 9 commander Superintendent Michael Macapagal said a Toyota Innova parked in the garage was hit.

The slug was recovered inside the vehicle, he added.

The attackers were in a white Toyota Tamaraw FX, Macapagal said.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, Quezon City police Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief, said the plate number supposedly seen attached to the assailants’ vehicle has been traced to a Nissan aluminum van registered to one Enrique Punzalan.

However, Punzalan told police the license plates of his van were not stolen and his vehicle had never left his residence.

Marcelo said the suspects might have used fake license plates or that the witness had failed to correctly take note of the plate number.

“At the moment, we are coordinating with the UP administration to get Professor David’s statement,” he said.

“This would tell us whether he has any idea of who could be behind the strafing and the possible motive.”

David was reportedly inside the house with his granddaughter Julia when the attack occurred.

Police have yet to talk to David, who is also a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, to get his account of the incident.

At the House of Representatives, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna condemned yesterday the attack on David’s house.

“The shooting is seriously appalling if it is done to any person,” he said. “What more if it is done to Professor David, one of the country’s most eminent social analysts and a true patriot.”

Police have offered protection for David, but his wife Karina, former Civil Service Commission chair, has said they don’t need it because they have no enemies. – With Jess Diaz, Cecille Suerte Felipe