Calamba slay suspect hunted

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Philippines—The brother of the city treasurer of Calamba City in Laguna has been tagged as a suspect in the killing Sunday of the manager of the city abattoir.

Calamba police chief Supt. Marvin Saro on Monday said a witness claimed he saw Victorino “Turing” Manjares shoot the victim, Jaime Herrera, 57, at around 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Manjares is a brother of City Treasurer Francisca Adriano. He is employed by the city government as a member of Adriano’s staff and driver.

Herrera, father-in-law of Inquirer reporter Marlon Ramos, was seated in his vehicle that was parked in front of Adriano’s house in Barangay (village) Paciano when he was shot.

The witness told police that after shooting Herrera, Manjares “casually” walked away and entered a nearby apartment, Saro said.

The police on Sunday went to the apartment and discovered a way out the back where Manjares might have fled. Police were tracking him down, Saro said.

Police were puzzled as to the motive for the killing as Herrera and Manjares were known to be good friends, Saro said.

In fact, Herrera was at the house of Adriano, Manjares’ sister, that morning to pick her up and give her a lift somewhere, he said.

Herrera was a former member of the Philippine Constabulary (forerunner of the Philippine National Police) and was related to a former police official in Calamba City.

In a text message, Herrera’s daughter Karen said the family was asking the authorities to bring the suspect to justice.

The Inquirer sought a comment from Adriano but a member of her staff said on the phone on Monday that she was not at the office.

Earlier, Adriano told police she could not believe what happened, Saro said.