Suspect in slay try of CHR investigator undergoes paraffin test

MANILA, Philippines—One of the suspects behind the shooting of a 55-year-old Commission on Human Rights investigator underwent a paraffin test Friday to check whether he fired a gun, police said.

Police Officer 1 Jorge Caculba said 25-year-old suspect Jerwin Escalante was brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City earlier Friday to test him for gunpowder residue following his arrest Thursday evening for his alleged involvement in the attack against Attorney Simplicio Abong.

“Usually results of paraffin examinations are released a week after,” Caculba said when asked when the test results would come out.

Abong is now inside the intensive care unit of Sta. Teresita General Hospital after sustaining three gunshot wounds to different parts of his body following the attack by about three to four men as he was driving his way home along Mauban Street, in Barangay (village) Manresa, Quezon City around 7 p.m. Thursday, Police Officer 3 Vergilion Bernardo of Quezon City Police District station 1said.

In radio interview, Leonida Abong, the victims’ wife said: “meron s’yang tama sa pisngi lumabas sa leeg so nabasag ‘yong panga n’ya. Tapos yung kanyang windpipe parang affected so nilagyan ng tubo para makahinga s’ya.”

Escalante was arrested after he was positively identified by Abong before he was admitted to the ICU as one of the men who shot him. The victim was quoted as saying that Escalante is the husband of one Rochelle, and the son-in-law of a certain Ofelia, Bernardo said.

“After ng incident, naghiwa-hiwalay ‘yong mga suspects, at naglakad lang si Escalante,” the arresting officer said.

However, he said, police are looking into three to four more suspects involved in the attack.