Police said Cecillia Ramos, secretary of the barangay bureau of the Caloocan City Hall, died while being taken to the Ospital ng Tondo. She had five gunshot wounds in the head and body.
Investigators said the gunman was described as 5’7" tall with dark complexion. He escaped on board a dark blue van with government plates (SAF-808) driven by an apparent accomplice.
Investigator SPO2 Steve Casimiro said the shooting took place at around 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Cavite and Juan Luna streets in Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila.
Casimiro said Ramos, of Gen. Lukban in Gagalangin, was apparently waiting for a taxi on her way to work when the van stopped near her.
The gunman alighted from the van and fired two successive shots at Ramos.
He then grabbed her bag before shooting her three times more.
One witness told SPO2 Edgardo Paterno’s vehicle sped toward the Pritil Market in Tondo.
The witness could not describe the face of the gunman, who was wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses.
Casimiro said they are coordinating with the family of the victim as well as people from the Caloocan City Hall to determine if Ramos had any known enemies.
Police said they will also check with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to find out where the plates are registered.
But some investigators said it was likely the plates or the vehicle itself were stolen.
"I don’t think anyone would be foolish enough to commit a crime using a government-issued vehicle, which can easily be traced," one investigator said.
Inspector Norberto Obrero said the gunman made sure that Ramos was dead by shooting her several more times even after she was hit in the head.
Obrero said the gunman could have attempted to mislead investigators by taking the victim’s black bag, making it appear as a robbery.