MANILA, Philippines – An executive assistant of former Makati City mayor Junjun Binay was wounded after being shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen on Thursday night in Brgy. Olympia, Makati City, police said.
A police report from the Southern Police District (SPD) said Monaliza Bernardo, 44, was shot in front of her apartment at 8:13 p.m., Thursday, after she had just arrived home from work.
She sustained a gunshot wound in the right hand and the bullet went through her stomach.
Police said the suspects, who were aboard a motorcycle and both wearing helmets, fled towards South Avenue after shooting Bernardo.
Witnesses, who were neighbors of the victim, told police that the suspects were seen casing the area prior to the shooting.
Police recovered from the crime scene one .45-caliber pistol spent shell.
Bernardo was rushed to Makati Medical Center for medical treatment.
In a statement on Friday, Binay said he suspects that the attack on his executive assistant was politically-motivated.
“Mabait po siya na tao, walang po siyang kaaway, kaya nalulungkot po ako na baka nadamay siya sa laban ko sa pulitika. Sana naman ay hindi,” Binay said in a Facebook post.
“Kung sino man ang may kagagawan ng krimen na ito, hindi kami titigil hanggang di kayo mapanagot sa inyong kasalanan,” he added.
Binay is seeking a return to the Makati City mayor’s office in the May 13 midterm elections. He served as Makati City mayor from 2010 to 2015.
Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay said she is “still in shock” over the shooting of Bernardo whom she considers a part of their family,
The senator urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement authorities to “confront” the matter, and track down the person responsible for the crime.
“Kilala kong isang mabait na kaibigan at kasama si Monette (Bernardo), at wala akong alam na kaaway niya. That’s why I am still in shock with the threat to her life,” Senator Binay said in a Twitter post.
“Ako po’y nananawagan sa mga otoridad at sa PNP to confront this matter as soon as possible, at papanagutin kung sino man ang sa likod ng pagtatangka sa buhay niya,” she added. /muf
Kilala kong isang mabait na kaibigan at kasama si Monette, at wala akong alam na kaaway niya. That's why I am still in shock with the threat to her life.
— Senator Nancy Binay (@SenatorBinay) March 22, 2019
Ako po'y nananawagan sa mga otoridad at sa PNP to confront this matter as soon as possible, at papanagutin kung sino man ang sa likod ng pagtatangka sa buhay niya.
— Senator Nancy Binay (@SenatorBinay) March 22, 2019
Police said they are still conducting follow-up investigation to determine the motive behind the shooting. /muf