Couple dead, 2 sons hurt in gun attack

MANILA, Philippines - A man and his wife were killed while their two sons were wounded in an attack by four motorcycle-riding men in Rodriguez, Rizal shortly after midnight yesterday.

Nelson Go, 56, and his wife Ruby, 52, died at the scene from gunshot wounds in the head and back, respectively.

The couple’s sons Nelson Robin, 21, and Stephen, 13, were taken to the Marikina Valley Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds in the leg and shoulder.

The victims were on their way home in an Asian utility vehicle from Marikina City when four men on separate motorcycles blocked their way along Don Mariano Extension in Barangay San Jose at around 12:30 a.m.

Reports reaching Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba, Rizal police director, said the back riders of the motorcycles approached the victims’ vehicle and shot them at close range.

Witnesses said the assailants made sure that Nelson and Ruby were dead before fleeing.

Balba said investigators recovered four bullet shells, two deformed slugs and a metal fragment of an unknown caliber from the crime scene.

The victims’ neighbors said the couple had no known enemies, but Balba said the husband had figured in a quarrel with officials of their village’s homeowners’ group.

He said he ordered a manhunt for the assailants. Probers have yet to determine the motive for the attack.