BIR exec survives slay try

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, whose office handles internal investigations of BIR employees, survived an ambush attempt while on his way home and driving a government vehicle in Quezon City on Thursday night.

Lawyer Daniel de Jesus, 46, chief of the BIR’s internal investigation division, sustained only a gunshot wound on his right shoulder even if the vehicle he was driving was strafed by the gunman, said Chief Superintendent Richard Albano, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

The Toyota Innova (NXQ-396) that De Jesus was driving was shot at least 10 times.

Albano said policemen recovered nine empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol and a deformed slug from the same caliber.

Superintendent Limuel Obon, commander of the QCPD Station 10, said the attack at past 11 p.m. was perpetrated by two men on a red motorcycle, one of them armed with a gun. Both were wearing helmets.

Obon said the victim stopped at a red light along East Avenue when the ambush happened.

The motorcycle that carried the assailants suddenly appeared at the right side of the Innova. The gunman fired the first shot at the passenger window but he missed his target.

At this point, the victim managed to pull the lever of the driver’s side door and quickly got off the vehicle as the gunman fired more shots.

Obon said De Jesus managed to duck and seek cover as there was a Toyota Fortuner also at a halt at the left side of the victim’s Innova. The Fortuner was also hit by stray bullets.

The assailants eventually sped off, leaving behind De Jesus, who had crawled to the center island.

The already wounded De Jesus returned to his Innova and drove himself to Philippine Heart Center to seek treatment. He later requested to be transferred to a private hospital.

‘No known enemy’

Obon said De Jesus could not point to anyone, who could be behind the attempt on his life. De Jesus told police he had no enemy and had not received any death threat before Thursday’s ambush.

According to Obon, the bullet remained embedded in De Jesus’ shoulder but he was already out of danger. He was scheduled to undergo an operation yesterday afternoon.

Obon said they will check surveillance cameras in the area of the ambush to get clues on the identities of the assailants. Obon said the victim failed to take note of the license plates of the assailants’ motorcycle.

Obon said he had also provided policemen to guard the victim while he remains confined in the hospital.