Quezon City fiscal slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines — The chief inquest prosecutor of Quezon City was killed in an ambush as he was on his way to pick up his wife from work yesterday afternoon.

Deputy City Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco was driving his red Toyota Innova along Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Holy Spirit when he was attacked at around 4:55 p.m.

He was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center following the shooting. He died at around 6:07 p.m., police said. 

Superintendent Joel Villanueva, Batasan police station commander, said it looked like the unidentified assailants waited along Velasco’s usual route to pick up his wife, reportedly a doctor in the barangay, each afternoon.

A witness told police that a white Innova cut into the path of Velasco’s vehicle. Assailants shot the prosecutor several times, leaving him bleeding in the driver’s seat, before speeding away.

Investigators said they are verifying the plate number of the assailants’ car given by a witness through surveillance footage in the area. 

Velasco handled several high-profile cases in Quezon City as he was the final signatory in resolutions that underwent inquest proceedings. 

Velasco is the second fiscal in Quezon City who was ambushed in recent years. 

Assistant City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa was gunned down while he was walking towards his parked car in front of a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Old Balara in January 2017. He died at the scene.