Gunman in DOTC executive's ambush known

MANILA, Philippines - Police have identified the gunman in the ambush of a top official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in Pasig City Wednesday.

Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said a witness picked out the alleged gunman’s photograph from the rogue’s gallery of the Pasig City police.

Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja, a witness in the botched $329 million ZTE broadband deal, was ambushed by five armed men while his black Toyota Hi-Lux (ZNW-329) was caught in a traffic jam along Barangay Sta. Lucia at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Soneja was hit in the left shoulder and is reported to be in stable condition at the Medical City. The suspects fled on board a motorcycle and a tricycle.

Malacañang said yesterday it was too early to impute any motive for the attack on Soneja.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez denounced the ambush, saying it was alarming because it was done in broad daylight.

“We will wait for the investigation of the PNP before we say anything on this matter,” he said.

Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, Task Force Soneja chief, said a witness helping police prepare a sketch of the gunman identified him when shown a photo in the file of criminals kept by the Pasig City police.

“The gunman is now the target of our massive manhunt operations,” he said.

Rosales said crack police operatives were conducting raids in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces to get the five suspects in Soneja’s ambush.

“We are staging raids. But I cannot tell you the areas right now because the Task Force Soneja are hopping from one place to another hoping to find and arrest the suspects,” Rosales said in an interview.

Soriano said they are still in the dark as to the motive behind the failed ambush on Soneja.

DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza offered a P1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Because of the reward, Rosales said the Task Force Soneja’s telephone lines kept on ringing with the callers offering information regarding the suspects. – With Marvin Sy