P100, 000 reward up for info on city engineer’s ambush

MANILA, Philippines - The mayor of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan has offered a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in the ambush of city engineer Rufino Gravador.

A report on GMA News said Mayor Ernest San Pedro made the offer amid suspicion he was behind the ambush.

Gravador was the whistle-blower in a case filed against San Pedro and 16 other officials in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of a new government center building.

San Pedro had denied he had anything to do with the ambush. He said  he is leaving it up to the Office of the Ombudsman to decide on the complaint filed against him.

A task force has been created to investigate the ambush, Chief Superintendent Rudy Lacadin, Police Regional Office 3 director, yesterday said.

Lacadin said he ordered Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan police director, to create the task force to ensure the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the attack.

He said a manhunt has been launched for the assailants.

Gravador, 55, was driving his Mitsubishi Montero when motorcycle-riding gunmen blocked his path and shot at him in Barangay Bulac in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Wednesday. He was hit in the left shoulder, nape and butt and remained confined in an undisclosed hospital yesterday.

Investigators said they would interview Gravador after he recovers from surgery. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro