MMDA exec slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was shot dead after he and his wife attended a Sunday night mass in Marikina City.

Cesar Bacani, 54, was parking his motorcycle in front of his house on Fernando street in Barangay Barangka when three attackers arrived on a motorcycle. One of them shot him at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Chief Inspector Norberto Liwag said.

When Bacani fell to the ground, another one of the attackers approached him and shot him several times in the head and body, witnesses told police. Bacani’s wife, who had gone into the house while he was parking, rushed out and found her husband lying on the ground. The victim died on the spot.

His attackers sped away on their motorcycle.

According to the MMDA’s assistant general manager for operations, Emerson Carlos, the victim was a field operation officer of the MMDA-Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.

Marikina police investigators are checking Bacani’s background to help them find out who killed him and why.

Bacani’s murder follows recent unsolved attacks on Kakusa Rep. Arnulfo Canonigo and pro-golfer Antonio Asistio III.