2 persons of interest eyed in Quezon mayor’s shooting

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Police have identified two persons of interest in the shooting of Mayor Filipina Grace America of Infanta, Quezon on Sunday.

Col. Joel Villanueva, Quezon police director, said provincial police operatives and other support units have launched an operation to track down the two.

“The task group is still consolidating pieces of evidence, including footage of several closed-circuit television cameras. We need to enhance the CCTV to identify the assailant, May ibang CCTV footage malabo ang kuha,“ Villanueva told The STAR.

He said the mayor, who underwent surgery, is now out of danger.

Villanueva urged the public to report to the nearest police station any information about the case.

He said it is still too early to link the attack to politics.

“I have assigned a policeman for her security. I have noticed she has no security when I visited her,” Villanueva said.

The mayor, 60, is seeking reelection in the May elections. She was on her way home after attending Sunday mass when she was shot.

Meanwhile, Capt. Sandro Ortega – former deputy police chief of Cainta, Rizal, who was among those implicated in the killing of the bodyguard of former Biliran congressman Glenn Chong and his companion in 2018 – surrendered on Monday.

Thirteen policemen tagged in the killing have so far surrendered.

Richard Santillan was driving Chong’s car with Gessamyn Casing as his passenger when they were shot by policemen who were looking for a stolen vehicle.

Antipolo Regional Trial Court Branch 99 Judge Miguel Asuncion issued arrest warrants for more than 20 people in connection with the attack.