Ex-PTA chief, brother shot in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines – A former chief of the Philippine Tourism Authority and columnist of Pilipino Star Ngayon is now in critical condition after suspected robbers shot him in front of his brother’s house in Calamba City on Saturday night.

Nixon Kua, 49, was shot in the face and now confined at the intensive care unit of Calamba Doctors’ Hospital, according to Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz on Sunday.

Kua’s brother, Allyxon, 46, was also wounded in the attack.

Cruz said Nixon and his daughter Sue Anne, 21, had just arrived at the gate of his brother’s house at the upscale Ayala Greenfield Subdivision in Barangay Maunong on Saturday 8 p.m. when four men rushed to them and shot Nixon in the face. One of the robbers then snatched Sue Anne’s bag  containing P90,000 cash, which was supposed to be paid to the workers of Nixon’s house that was being built in the subdivision.

Allyxon, who went out of his house to meet his brother, was also shot in his shoulder. Police said the suspects fled on foot.

“It seemed the attack was planned. The robbers knew the victims carried cash at that time because it was the workers’ payday,” Cruz said.

He said two of the construction workers hired by Nixon had gone missing, although the police have yet to tag them as suspects.

The daughter who was unharmed was also asked by the police to provide descriptions of the robbers, since only one of the suspects had his face covered.

Laguna Gov. Jeorge ER Ejercito on Sunday offered P100,000 cash reward for information that might lead to the suspects. The provincial police also formed a Task Nixon to investigate the case. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon