Man seen ‘casing’ PR agent’s house prior to ambush

Inset photo shows former journalist and Finance department consultant Michael Marasigan. Main photo shows the vehicle carrying the victim and his brother Christopher after motorcycle-riding men opened fire at them in San Juan City. PHOTO COURTESY OF RADYO INQUIRER / FACEBOOK

Police investigators looking into the killing of public relations consultant Mike Marasigan and his brother have found witnesses saying they saw a man observing Marasigan’s San Juan City residence for two days prior to the Aug. 3 attack.

Four witnesses described the man to be around 5’8” tall, paunchy and sporting a moustache, according to the Eastern Police District (EPD), which has formed a task force to solve the murders.

A facial composite of the man has been made but the EPD’s Task Force Marasigan has yet to make it public at press time.

Mike Marasigan, a 60-year-old former journalist-turned-press agent, and his 50-year-old brother Christopher were in a car when shot several times around 6 p.m. on Thursday on V. Cruz Street, Barangay Sta. Lucia, in San Juan.

The older Marasigan died on the spot while his brother, who was driving, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Police said the assailants fired at the car at least 34 times.

EPD director Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula said the witnesses recalled seeing a man observing Mike Marasigan’s house  in Barangay Onse.

Sapitula used the term “casing” — police parlance for a surveillance operation — to describe the man’s actions.

Case investigator PO3 Frederick Kahulugan of the San Juan City Police said the man was seen outside Marasigan’s house on Monday and Tuesday.

Kahulugan also said that earlier on Thursday at the Marasigan residence, shortly before the ambush, one of Mike’s family members overheard him speaking to someone on the phone about a 7 p.m. appointment at Greenbelt, Makati City.

The elder Marasigan was later fetched by his brother.

Sapitula said security camera footage in the area showed the assailants tailing the victims’ car before the attack.

Marasigan, whose killing drew condemnation from friends in the media and the government, had been a managing editor of BusinessWorld and video producer at Living Asia Channel.

He later served as press agent for several companies and individuals, including Tagum Development Corp., owned by the family of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.