Photojournalist’s shooting: 5 persons of interest watched

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are hot on the trail of the five persons of interest in the shooting of a photojournalist and his relatives in Quezon City last week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is monitoring the suspects in the ambush of Rene Joshua Abiad, a photographer for Remate online.

Probers said Abiad was in a sport utility vehicle with his family, including three minors, when a car blocked their path in Barangay Masambong on June 29.

A man wearing a black jacket got out of the car and started firing at the victims.

Police said a motorcycle rider served as a lookout.

After the attack, the suspects fled toward Del Monte Avenue in their getaway vehicle.

The other victims were Abiad’s relatives Renato, 41; Cheryl, 42; Elizabeth, 37, and three minors.

Bystander Jeffrey Ngo Cao, 47, was hit by a stray bullet.

The victims were brought to an undisclosed hospital where Abiad’s four-year-old nephew died on Saturday.

Fajardo said police discovered that the license plate of the car used by the suspects was registered to a different vehicle, whose owner was traced by authorities.

The license plates of the vehicles were switched, probers said.

Fajardo said there are indications that the shooting of the media worker was the handiwork of a “professional group.”

Fajardo expressed hope that police are close to catching the suspects.

The Commission on Human Rights has launched a parallel probe on the ambush of Abiad and his family to “aid in uncovering the truth.”— Elizabeth Marcelo