Taguig city hall employee shot dead

MANILA, Philippines–A Taguig City officer on “floating status” in city hall was shot dead in Upper Bicutan while on his way home Friday afternoon.

Jeffrey Minglana, 40, the former head of the city business permit and license office, was riding his motorcycle along A. Bonifacio road on his way home at around 5:25 p.m., when an unidentified man shot him four times in the back before fleeing with an accomplice on another motorcycle.

The killing took place in front of the Heaven’s Door school.

Minglana was brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital but was declared dead by 5:30 p.m.

Mayoral candidate Rica Tinga went to the hospital to commiserate with Minglana’s family. Minglana was the BPLO head when Rica’s brother, Sigfrido “Freddie” Tinga, was mayor of Taguig.

She said Minglana was a staunch supporter of the Tingas, and an “educated gentleman” with no known enemies.

She expressed disappointment that the Taguig police seemed lax about the case. “We’re here at the hospital and there’s not one investigator in sight,” she said, in a phone interview.

“He’s still a regular city hall employee. He was just placed on floating status in the city treasurer’s office when the administration changed in 2010,” she added about Minglana.

Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Lani Cayetano also expressed outrage at the crime.

“I strongly condemn the shooting of a Taguig city government employee. I have tasked the Taguig police to do everything to resolve the crime and to hold liable those behind the killing,” she said, in a statement.

“I condole with the bereaved family. Rest assured the city government will work with the police to bring justice to what has happened to your loved one,” Cayetano added.