Decena suspects couple who owed her P200M behind ambush

Businesswoman Cristina Decena on Thursday sought the help of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for the capture of the mastermind behind the attempt on her life last week.

At the meeting with Decena, De Lima said she could see that the businesswoman “truly fears for her life, for her safety and that of her family.”

She said the National Bureau of Investigation was investigating the identity of the mastermind of the Aug. 14 gun attack on Decena by two men in a motorcycle who were later arrested by the police.

Decena claimed on Thursday that the persons who could have masterminded the attempt on her life were a couple who owed her more than P200 million.

Henry Quiñonez, a former member of the PNP-SAF with the rank of Police Officer 1, and his companion Edgar Binalla were arrested Thursday night in a Manila hostel for transients run by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The suspects were initially booked for illegal possession of firearms.

Binalla was later identified by Decena’s son, Danilo, as one of the men on a motorbike who had tailed them and shot at their Starex van.

The Decenas and their maid, Helen Felesco, were in the van passing through Banawe Street near the corner of Simoun Street in Sta. Mesa Heights when they were ambushed around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Decenas and their driver were unhurt, but Felesco sustained wounds from shattered glass and bullet fragments.

Danilo managed to hit the gunmen’s motorbike, throwing them off the vehicle.

With the bike damaged, the pair commandeered a passing tricycle which they used as their getaway

ehicle.

The businesswoman said she recognized the two gunmen as persons working for former Maj. Manuel Dasig.

Decena told reporters she had filed a case against Dasig and his wife because the properties that she had built and sold had been placed in the couple’s name “and they do not want to give these back to me.”

The couple also owe her fees as an endorser in their business, she added.

“I am the victim here.  And I am not one who would back out of a fight,” Decena said.