Trader killed, son hurt in ambush

MANILA, Philippines -- A 40-year-old businessman died while his 17-year-old son was slightly injured when two armed men shot at their car at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila Wednesday morning.

The Quezon City police initially handled the investigation, but turned over the case to the Manila Police District’s homicide section, which has jurisdiction over the incident.

SPO3 Steve Casimiro said Carmelo Llado of Sampaloc, Manila reportedly owned a fleet of delivery trucks.

Llado was driving his three children to school at around 6:50 a.m. when two armed men waiting at the corner of Roces and Santol streets fired at the vehicle, then used a motorcycle to flee from the area.

Llado was rushed by a barangay watchman to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival from at least four gunshot wounds in the face and body. Llado’s 17-year-old son was also treated for a wound he sustained when a bullet grazed his left hand.

Casimiro said the gunmen targeted only the elder Llado since the bullets were directed only at the driver’s seat. Last Dec. 3, Llado reported to the Sampaloc police station the death threats he had been receiving through several text messages from a businessman with whom he had recently quarreled, Casimiro said.

Police temporarily withheld the identity of the businessman pending further investigation. Residents told police that they saw on several occasions two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle, apparently casing the victim’s house.

Llado’s 14-year-old daughter told Casimiro she recognized one of the gunmen as a recent visitor at their house. However, the family requested the questioning be postponed until Llado has been buried, Casimiro said.