Travel agency of Paolo’s friend strafed

CEBU, Philippines - A travel agency owned by a friend of the son of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was strafed by two unknown men past 12 midnight yesterday along S.B Cabahug Street in Barangay Centro, Mandaue City. Black Panda Travel and Tours is owned by Tony Lee, the father of Tonyson Lee, a close friend of Garcia’s son, Paolo.

The police earlier charged Tonyson, Paolo and another friend, Joey Cal, with direct assault for allegedly hitting the nape of Insp. Alvino Enguito while giving instructions to the troops assigned to secure the Capitol grounds during the standoff last week.

Investigative and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) head Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes said that the travel agency was operated by Tonyson in 2008 but in 2010, his father, Tony Lee, took over the operation.

According to bystanders in the area, they saw two wearing full-faced helmets strafed the establishment.

They left after five minutes on a motorcycle.  Taxi driver Antonio Perez, who was sleeping nearby, said that he was awakened by the rapid fire .

Bastes said there were 27 holes on the wall of the establishment.  They also recovered 16 empty shells of an automatic rifle making them suspect that the attackers were either using a K-9 rifle or an Ingram .

Luckily, no one was inside the establishment during the strafing.

A staff of the travel agency told the police that the father and son left the country for a vacation last December 26.

Bastes said they are considering all angles of the attack including its possible connection to the tension at the Provincial Capitol.

But Police Regional Office 7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr. suspected that the strafing was just a “drama.”

“Considering the behavior and attitude of these three guys, it could just be a drama orchestrated by them,” Garbo said, referring to Tonyson, Paolo and Cal.

Garbo said the incident may have something to do with the direct case that the police filed against the three.

 “We will investigate. We’re not here to make a guessing game. We will deal with this based on evidence,” said Garbo.

Garbo  also said they are now working on the cancellation of the permit to carry guns of Paolo, Tonyson and Cal.He already sent his recommendations to Camp Crame.

Garbo said the behavior that they showed is reason enough to disallow them from bringing firearms outside their residences.

Gabo tasked Sr. Supt. Rex Derilo, chief of the Firearms Explosives Security Agency and Guards Supervisory Division (FESSAGS) to work on the matter.

Derilo told reporters yesterday that Paolo owns three guns registered at FESSAGS but the license of one of the firearms has already expired.

The license of Paolo’s GGC Security Agency has also expired in June 2011, based on the licensing record of FESSAGS. — /MBG (FREEMAN)