General’s son kills woman, hurts 2 in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - A son of a retired Constabulary general and nephew of former Armed Forces chief Narciso Abaya shot dead a woman and wounded two more passengers of a van in White Plains, Quezon City Tuesday night.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is investigating if Jose Maria Abaya, 50, son of the late Philippine Constabulary general Antonio Abaya, could be behind the unresolved shooting incidents in the city.

Abaya’s .22 caliber Glock pistol will be subjected to ballistics examination at the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office to determine if it was used in previous shootings, Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said.

Marcelo said they are verifying if the gun was registered to Abaya.

Abaya allegedly shot dead UV Express van passenger Joyce Santos and wounded its driver Ronebert Ycot and another passenger named Duke Angelo David.

Santos suffered a gunshot wound to the head and died at The Medical City in Pasig.

Marcelo said David was discharged from the said hospital. Ycot remains in critical condition.

Reports said Abaya shot at the van while it was parked along Katipunan Extension as he thought that it was sent to transport him back to the rehabilitation center.

Previous cases

Abaya was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs in March last year, according to Senior Inspector Elmer Monsalve of the QCPD homicide section.

He tested positive for shabu following his arrest, Monsalve said.

Abaya was nabbed at a police checkpoint in Eastwood for driving without a helmet. He was out on bail until his arrest Tuesday night.

 In October 2012, Abaya was charged with homicide for the killing of a security guard of a drug rehabilitation center, Silvercrest Foundation, in Parañaque City. Another security guard was reportedly wounded during the incident.

 Police investigation showed that Abaya shot dead Roger Biquit and wounded his companion Richard Reyes when they tried to prevent his escape from the rehabilitation facility.

Marcelo said charges of murder, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms are being readied against Abaya, who was detained at the QCPD detention facility.