Grab driver shot dead by man ‘high on drugs’ in Batangas resort

SAN PEDRO CITY –– A driver of a ride-hailing app was shot dead in a resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, police said on Wednesday.

The victim was identified as Junnel Mar Alano, 35, of Taguig City in Metro Manila.

Alano, a Grab driver, was booked to drive a family to a beach resort in Barangay Natipuan, Nasugbu.

Batangas police chief Col. Edwin Quilates, in a report, said the shooting happened around 2 p.m. Tuesday, as Alano was taking his break and strolling on the beach.

The suspect, Dennis Esmeralda, who was a guest in an adjacent resort, suddenly appeared and shot Alano several times.

Alano died on the spot.

The resort staff and lifeguards immediately accosted Esmeralda and turned him over to the police.

The police said it was not immediately clear what drove Esmeralda to shoot the victim, except that he was allegedly high on illegal drugs at the time.

The police also interviewed a companion of Esmeralda who said that the suspect had not slept for the past three days.

It also turned out that Esmeralda had a standing arrest warrant for murder issued by the regional trial court branch 256 in Muntinlupa City, Quilates said. /lzb