PSA statistician shot dead in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — A statistician of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was killed while two others were wounded after they were shot by unidentified gunmen in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Namer Ariate, 54, a special statistician of the PSA, and two others were riding a tricycle when the shooting took place in Barangay Payatas.

Police investigators said two men blocked the tricycle at the corner of Sampaguita and Santan streets at around 6:30 a.m.

The suspects, armed with handguns of unknown caliber, shot Ariate multiple times.

The two other passengers, both women, were hit by stray bullets.

The gunmen then boarded a motorcycle and fled toward Santa street.

Ariate and the other victims were brought to a hospital for medical treatment, but the statistician was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police investigators retrieved four deformed fired bullets and a metal fragment at the scene.

Police are scouring the area for surveillance camera videos to determine the suspects’ identity.