Manhunt on for Quezon City road rage slay suspect

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered a manhunt yesterday for the stepson of an Asian Development Bank executive for allegedly killing a son of a Malacañang official during a traffic altercation in Quezon City Wednesday.

Verzosa has issued an “all-points bulletin” for Jason Aguilar Ivler, described as “armed and dangerous,” for being a key suspect in the shooting of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., a son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. of the Office of the Executive Secretary. The younger Ebarle was a recruitment officer of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Police could not yet establish if Ivler is employed.

Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales said Ivler has not been to his house on Hillside Drive, Blue Ridge A in Barangay Libis, Quezon City from Wednesday night until 3 p.m. yesterday. He said he has coordinated with Bureau of Immigration associate commissioner Enrique Galang Jr. to prevent Ivler from leaving the country.

Although diplomatic officials such as ADB executive Stephen Pollard, Ivler’s stepfather, enjoy diplomatic immunity, Verzosa said such a privilege is not extended to his family, especially since Ivler committed a crime against a person.

Ivler, according to the PNP, was the same man who figured in a car accident in 2004 along the C5–Ortigas flyover wherein Presidential Technical Assistant for Resettlement Undersecretary Nestor Ponce Jr. was killed. Ivler sustained minor injuries.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said Ivler was charged in court and a hold departure order was issued against him. Ivler was later arrested by National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration agents in Zamboanga City as he was about to sail for Malaysia, apparently to escape prosecution.

Verzosa directed the National Capital Region Police Office, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Aviation Security Group to join the manhunt for the suspect.

Espina said printouts of Ivler’s photo in the files of QCPD have been circulated to different PNP units in Metro Manila as well as at major airport and seaports.

Police believe Ivler may have shot and killed Ebarle, 27, during a traffic altercation along Santolan Road in Quezon City last Nov. 18.

Witness Senior Police Officer 2 Edgar Tiodin, who was driving his Isuzu Crosswind along Santolan Road, said he saw a man driving a Honda CRV with diplomatic license plate 20903 block the path of Ebarle’s Toyota Land Cruiser. The driver then got out and shot Ebarle with a .45 caliber handgun three times. Ebarle died on the spot before paramedics could administer first aid treatment.

Tiodin said he gave chase until the Honda CRV entered New Manila village and disappeared. Espina said there are no firearms registered under Ivler’s name.

Stonewalling?

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, deputy head of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, expressed disappointment over the statement issued by Pollard, 58, who went to QCPD-CIDU yesterday afternoon.

“We’re frustrated. We denounce his being uncooperative,” he said, adding that their legal officers are trying to determine whether Pollard, a British citizen, could be charged with obstruction of justice.

Ivler is a son of Pollard’s wife, Marlene Aguilar, by a previous marriage. Marlene is a sister of musician Freddie Aguilar.

Pollard told police he was not the one driving the Honda CRV, registered under his name, when Ebarle was killed. When The STAR asked Pollard’s lawyer, Alexis Medina, who was using the vehicle Wednesday night, Medina said they had no comment on the matter. QCPD-CIDU head Superintendent Lino Banaag said they got the same response when they asked Pollard the same question.

Pollard, who works as the ADB Pacific Department’s principal economist, told police he seldom uses the Honda CRV and the vehicle was “parked at my home most of the week.”

“I do not remember where the keys to this Honda are kept. I never used, drove or boarded this Honda vehicle at any time on… Nov. 18,” he said, noting he used a Toyota Grandia van that day.

Pollard said from the time he arrived home at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday until the next morning, he never went to check if the CRV was parked in its designated space. – With Mike Frialde, Reinir Padua, Non Alquitran