Transport group official shot dead in QC

MANILA, Philippines – A transport group official was killed by gunmen on a motorcycle as the victim was driving his sport utility vehicle on Monday night in Quezon City, police said Tuesday.

Rogel Fernandez, 45, died on the spot at the corner of Regalado and Commonwealth avenues after he was ambushed by two men on a motorcycle and three men on foot.

The case investigator, SPO1 Joselito Gagaza, said the victim, a resident of East Fairview Heights Subdivision in Barangay (village) Greater Lagro, once served as the national coordinator of the Pasang Masda, an organization of jeepney drivers.

Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao, Quezon City Police District director, said they have been looking at personal or work-related reasons as the possible motives for the attack.

At the time of his death, Fernandez was a member of Pangpasada, a new transport group.

The attack happened at around 7 p.m. as the victim was driving his maroon Mitsubishi Montero at the busy intersection in Barangay Greater Lago.

Fernandez’s vehicle was at the traffic light when two men aboard a motorcycle stopped some three meters from the vehicle.

The two men approached the vehicle and fired, hitting the victim in different parts of the body.

Pagdilao said the victim managed to crawl out of the vehicle towards the center island, where three other men fired their guns at him.

After the attack, the two gunmen fled on their motorcycle while the other assailants escaped on foot.

Gagaza said they recovered five fired cartridge cases and a bullet jacket from a .45 gun.