PDEA official’s car hit by bullet; foul play eyed

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency cheated death when her sport utility vehicle (SUV) was hit by a bullet while on her way to the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Lawyer Rose Borja and her husband, who was driving the SUV, were unscathed from the incident, according to PDEA spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon.

Borja is the head of the agency’s Internal Affairs Service.

The bullet, believed to be from a caliber .45 pistol, damaged the windshield of the Mazda CX7 during the incident along NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan at around 8:20 a.m., said Quezon City Police District-Station 10 commander Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr.

According to Carreon, the bullet hit the windshield on the side of the driver and bounced on the dashboard before finally landing on the floor.

Carreon said it appeared to be a stray bullet based on the trajectory of the bullet, which was downward.

Pedrozo said ballistics examination would be conducted on the gun that damaged the vehicle.

While evidence at the moment point to a stray bullet, police investigators will look into other possible angles, including foul play considering Borja’s position, Pedrozo said.