Cops affirm ‘suicide’ of businessman who quarreled with ex-GF in vehicle

The businessman who died of a gunshot wound in the head while in a moving SUV  in Caloocan City Thursday night most likely committed suicide and was not shot by his former girlfriend who was with him in the vehicle, the police said on Saturday.

Roderick Manuel, 35, was with EdelWeiss Flores in a black Ford Everest when he allegedly shot himself around 9 p.m. of Oct. 31 at the corner of General Tinio and Loreta Streets in Morning Breeze Subdivision, according to initial reports.

The vehicle, then driven by Flores, lost control and went over a street gutter before coming to a stop. Flores’ screams for help alerted residents and local officials, who brought Manuel to Manila Central University hospital where he was pronounced dead about four hours later.

City chief of police Senior Supt. Bernard Tambaoan noted that the right-handed Manuel, who took a shot to his right temple, was pulled out of the passenger seat.

According to Tambaoan, Flores told investigators that she and Manuel got into a fight that night over her decision to break up with him. The vehicle was not moving at the time and Manuel warned her that he would shoot himself if she wouldn’t start the engine and drive around.

But Manuel still shot himself even after Flores did what she was told, the woman claimed.

Since Manuel was in the passenger seat, no one else but him could have pointed the gun to his right temple, the police chief said.

The entry point of the bullet was also consistent with the fact that Manuel was right-handed, Tombaoan added.

“If the entry of the bullet had been in the left, then we might have some doubts (about the suicide theory),” he said. Kristine Felisse Mangunay