Suspect behind photojournalist’s shooting is an ex-cop, says police

This photo from Quezon City Police District shows the faces of two “persons of interest” in the shooting of photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad on June 29, 2023, as taken from a CCTV footage.

MANILA, Philippines — One of eight suspects who attacked photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad and his relatives in Quezon City last June 29 was a former policeman who was dismissed from service.

Five other suspects were members of a gun-for-hire group.

These details came from Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Earlier, QCPD director Brigadier General Nicholas Torre III revealed the identity of another suspect, Eduardo Almario Legazpi II, also known as “Bingbong.”

He had also mentioned the aliases of seven other suspects.

These are Nanad (a former barangay chairman in Pasay city); Greg (middleman); Juan (middleman); Marlon (gunman); Oca (driver of the suspects’ vehicle); Mata or Alexis (player or driver of motorcycle); and SBoy (cousin of Oca and a passenger).

According to Torre, suspect Nanad planned the attack with two middlemen.

One of them was Oca, whom he revealed was a dismissed police personnel.

They reportedly carried out the plan, along with a gun-for-hire group.

“Hinire itong grupo dahil feeling nila, si Josh ay nag-fe-feed ng information doon sa mga bumibira (media) kay chairman. Kasi pulitiko nga siya,” the QCPD director said in a press briefing.

(This group was hired because they felt Josh had been feeding information to those (media) who are criticizing the chairman, because he is a politician.)

“Ito namang mga players na ito, ang isa rito ay ex-policeman, dismissed na police, at tsaka mga gun-for-hire talaga,” Torre said.

(Among these players are an ex-policeman, a dismissed policeman, and gun-for-hire members.)

“Driver ng kotse, driver ng motor, taga-surveillance. Lahat, all the works ng isang gun-for-hire group,” he added.

(Car driver, motorcycle driver, and a watcher. Everything, all the works were done by a gun-for-hire group.)

Police intended to file a complaint against Oca.

RELATED STORIES:

Former Pasay barangay chairman tagged as alleged mastermind in photojournalist’s attack

‘Case solved’ for shooting incident involving photojournalist, says QCPD

APL