Critically wounded reporter whispered info to wife before falling unconscious

MANILA, Philippines—The Pasig police are looking into the possible involvement of a person, whose name newspaper reporter Fernan Angeles had allegedly whispered to his wife before he fell unconscious at the hospital following a shooting incident in Pasig City Sunday night.

Angeles, a Daily Tribune reporter covering the Malacañang beat, was shot six times by a man whom he was seen arguing with in an alley near Evangelista Street, Barangay (village) Palatiw around 10 p.m. Sunday, the police said.

Angeles, 42, remained in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Pasig City General Hospital.

Senior Police Officer 1 Lardy Ignacio, investigator on case, said the two were overheard arguing before shots rang out.

The assailant then “casually walked away” from the crime scene as Angeles fell to the ground and crawled while pleading for help.

Ignacio said the police were piecing together the accounts of witnesses in the area who, however, refused to provide much-needed details either out of fear or indifference.

“They saw the suspect and they might also know him. But they refused to cooperate,” Ignacio said.

Ignacio said investigators were relying on the information given by Angeles’ wife, Gemma.

“(Angeles) whispered a name (to Gemma). But we are not sure if it’s the one who ordered to shoot him, who shot him, or whom he last saw before the shooting,” he said.

Ignacio refused to divulge the name, saying the information must be verified first.

The police also remained mum on the motive behind the attack on the reporter.

Asked about the possibility that the shooting was work-related, Senior Superintendent Jessie Cardona, Pasig police chief, said: “The case is still under investigation. That is something we still have to determine.”

Cardona said the statement of the victim, once he regains consciousness, will be vital in the investigation.