TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The dean of the College of Law of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte survived a slay attempt by motorcycle-riding men Thursday night, authorities said.
The victim, lawyer Ramon Leano, was reported to be in stable condition despite multiple bullet wounds he sustained in the attack, said Superintendent Jeffrey Gorospe, spokesman of the Ilocos Norte police.
Two suspects, identified as Jonas Quesada, 24, and Reynaldo Pagatpatan, 32, a government militiaman, fell in a police dragnet in Pinili town.
Seized from them were a shotgun, a .45-caliber pistol, a motorcycle, two cell phones, and P20,000 in cash.
Police also subsequently arrested Jimmy Bautista, a security guard of the state-run university, who was sending text messages to Pagatpatan.
Bautista, however, denied any role in the slay attempt, saying Pagatpatan was just an acquaintance from their hometown of Badoc.
Police said the case is still under investigation. – With Teddy Molina, Cecille Suerte Felipe