Police reported witnesses as saying they heard the gunman telling Luvimen Agrabiador, 42, “Nakalaya ka na pala, mahina ba ebidensya (So you’re now free. Is the evidence weak)?” before firing his weapon successively.
Investigators said Agrabiador, who appeared to be the gunman’s sole target, died on the spot from several gunshot wounds in different parts of the body. His wife, Maria Lynn, 40, an ambulant tinapa vendor, was shot in the chest and remains in critical condition in a hospital following the shooting, which took place on Sumulong Highway, in front of Super 8 Supermarket in Barangay Bagong Nayon in Cogeo at 7:30 p.m.
The other injured were identified as Mark Anthony Berendia, 26; Danilo del Rosario, 48; Robert Bongan, 51; Ara Jannyn Orte, 12; and Yovelyn Pulido, 27.
All six injured were described as “collateral damage” as they were hit by stray bullets from the suspect’s gun, Police Officer 2 Dennis Reboldela said, adding that most of them were pedestrians, including Del Rosario, a barker at a nearby jeepney terminal.
Except for Maria Lynn, who remains in the intensive care unit of a hospital, the injured were set to be released from nearby hospitals after being treated for “minor” gunshot wounds in the lower part of their bodies, said Inspector Medardo Sumait, PCP 2 commander.
Initial police investigation showed that the assailant pulled out a gun upon seeing Agrabiador, who was with his wife at that time.
Agrabiador, Sumait said, had been ordered released earlier this month by the City Prosecutor’s Office pending preliminary investigation on a charge of robbery with rape.
The police official said the prosecutor did not find evidence strong enough to keep Agrabiador in detention for the duration of his trial.
Sumait said Agrabiador was also out on bail on a separate charge of double-attempted homicide. A hearing of this case was scheduled next month, Sumait said.
Sumait said the assailant was heard telling Agrabiador before firing his gun: “Nakalaya ka na pala, mahina ba ebidensya (So you’re free now. Is the evidence weak)?”
He said the assailant walked away casually amid the commotion that ensued after the shooting.
Sumait said at least six empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the scene.
Sumait said the authorities have established the identity of the assailant but he declined to release his name lest it hamper police operations.
He said that the motive was apparently a personal one based on the assailant’s own words.
Superintendent Manuel Placido, chief of the Antipolo police, said criminal charges were being readied against the suspect.