Killer of STAR driver’s son nabbed

Joint operatives of the Quezon City Police Criminal Investigation Division and Novaliches police station arrested yesterday the suspect in the Nov. 5 killing of the son and namesake of a Philippine STAR company driver in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Police report identified the suspect as Abdulgani Ampuan, 26, a vendor, of Sarmiento St. Santa Monica in Novaliches.

Ampuan who is now detained at the QCPC headquarters in Camp Karingal was identified by three witnesses as the gunman who shot Mario Ninal Jr. along Quirino Highway last Nov 5. The elder Ninal is a driver of The STAR news van covering Quezon City.

Tady Palma, secretary of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and head of the Novaliches District Center (NDC) lauded the police for the early resolution of the case. Palma, said his office will exert efforts to ensure that the area would be cleared of vendors by early next year.

"Despite the killing the crackdown will continue," he said.

Ninal was driving an NDC service vehicle and was shot by a gunman twice in the head while he was stalled in traffic along Quirino Highway near Ramirez street.

In line with the campaign, the NDC is poised to cancel permits of some sidewalk vendors. Palma has already met with leaders of vendors in the area to discuss the orderly implementation of the new policy.