General’s son doesn’t own gun he used in shooting victims—police

A WOMAN died while two other passengers in this van were wounded after it was strafed on Tuesday night. Lyn Rillon/INQUIRER

A former general’s son who allegedly killed a woman and injured two others in Katipunan, Quezon City on Tuesday night will also be charged with illegal possession of firearms, police said on Thursday.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer that the Glock caliber-40 pistol that Jose Maria Abaya used in shooting the victims was registered under a certain Joseph Sy.

“There are two firearms registered under Abaya but the one he used in the shooting was not his,” he said.

Abaya, son of former Philippine Constabulary general Antonio Abaya, is also facing charges of murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and two counts of attempted murder, which was upheld by the prosecutor.

“We are doing further investigation and gathering more evidence to back up the case,” Marcelo said.

Abaya reportedly killed assistant bank manager Joyce Santos, 41, when he shot a passenger van along Kaipunan Avenue Extension in Barangay (village) White Plains last Tuesday.

READ: Woman killed, 2 hurt in White Plains shooting | General’s son ‘not sorry’ for killing woman in White Plains, QC

A passenger and the driver of the van were hurt. The driver was reportedly in critical condition.

Marcelo said the driver’s family is also in need of financial help for the hospital charges.

Abaya believed that the people inside the van were out to get him. He thought he would be taken back to a rehabilitation center.

Marcelo could not say whether Abaya was under the influence of drugs when he did the shooting because he seemed normal and answered questions properly.

“Hindi mo masasabi na wala sa sarili ‘pag kinausap mo nakakasagot ng tama. Nasa katinuan nu’ng nag-surrender,” he said.

(We could not say that he was deranged because he was able to answer our questions. He was in the right frame of mind when he surrendered.)

Marcelo said that in October 2012, Abaya resisted being taken back to a rehabilitation center which resulted in him allegedly killing one security guard and injuring another.

Homicide charges were filed but were later dropped the same year, he said.

Abaya is currently detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit at Camp Karingal. Frances Mangosing/IDL