Joson clan scion wanted for 2 murders

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman, allegedly a scion of the Joson clan of Nueva Ecija, is now the object of a manhunt after he was accused of killing two of his neighbors and wounding a teenage girl in Valenzuela City earlier this month, officials said yesterday.

Police said Gerard Ferdinand Joson, 40, a resident of Ilang-Ilang street in Sta. Lucia Subdivision, has just been charged with two counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder before the court.

Joson was accused of killing tricycle driver Michael Villaseñor, 26; and overseas worker Jonathan Obaña, 42. Joan Convicto, 16, was confined at the Meycauayan Doctors Hospital for a gunshot wound.

Senior Police Officer 4 Jess Sagisi, deputy chief of the police investigation unit, said Obaña and Convicto were bystanders hit by stray bullets.

According to reports, Joson drove his motorcycle and went to Villaseñor’s house at the corner of Saint Peter Avenue and Saint James street in Veinte Reales at around 1:10 a.m. on Maundy Thursday.

Witnesses told police Joson tried to talk to Villaseñor out of testifying against Pablito Baronia, reportedly the suspect’s brother-in-law. Baronia is one of two persons accused of shooting Michael Thakursing in Valenzuela City on Aug. 11, 2011.

Family members, who sought police assistance in the case, said Villaseñor allegedly refused Joson’s request.

“Only a gun will stop me from testifying,” Villaseñor’s relatives quoted the victim as telling Joson.

Joson allegedly left but quickly returned, this time with a gun in his hand and shot Villaseñor repeatedly. Joson has reportedly gone into hiding since the shooting, police sources said.