Trader suffers brutal death inside van

A 30-year-old-businessman was abducted and shot dead the other night by three alleged hired killers inside a van, which was later involved in a high-speed chase with policemen along East Avenue in Quezon City.

Victim Jonnel Mendiola, owner of an Internet cafe at the Festival Mall, and a resident of 102-B Gonzales Street, Loyola Heights, sustained bullet and knife wounds in the face.

Two of the three suspects were injured in a firefight with policemen while of one them was able to flee. The two, now confined at the East Avenue Medical Center, were identified as Gregorio Lazano, 40, and Mariano Domingo, 32.

Initial reports showed that Mendiola had just taken his girlfriend Janice Liu to her house at 71 Rosa Albero Street, Xavierville Subdivision at 10:15 p.m. when three gunmen barged into the house. The suspects dragged Mendiola outside and forced him inside his Kia Pregio van.

Reports showed that the assailants stabbed the victim at least five times in the face before shooting him twice in the head with a homemade shotgun. Police confirmed that the killing took place inside the van.

After being alerted by witnesses, elements of the Central Police District spotted the Kia van at the corner of V. Luna Road and East Avenue in Barangay Piñahan.

A patrol car tried to flag down the van, but the suspects opened fire at policemen, forcing them to retaliate. Lazano and Domingo were hit during the shootout.

A brief chase followed, ending in front of the East Avenue Medical Center after the van carrying the suspects crashed into a lamp post. Two of the suspects surrendered. The third fled the scene.

Lazano and Domingo were brought to the nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Investigators said Mendiola was already dead when he was found inside the van.

Police, quoting sources, said Mendiola could have been the target of hit ordered by a former boyfriend of his fiancee. Other sources said Mendiola may have been a victim of a kidnap-for-ransom attempt gone wrong.

Authorities are currently conducting follow-up operations.