Niece of Pandi mayor survives gun attack

PANDI, BULACAN — The 22-year-old niece of Pandi Mayor Celestino Marquez survived an ambush outside a hardware store in this town on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Pamela Marquez, daughter of former Vice Mayor Oca Marquez, suffered bullet wounds in her body after three unidentified gunmen on board a motorcycle shot her about 5 p.m., said Police Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director.

Bersaluna said the suspects tailed the victim who came from a remittance center.

The gunmen then fired at the victim after she boarded her Toyota Fortuner SUV parked outside a hardware store in Barangay Bunsuran 1st here, Bersaluna said.

Police Maj. Avelino Protacio II, Pandi police chief, said the gunmen fled towards Balagtas town while the victim was taken to a hospital.

Protacio said they recovered empty shells and slugs for .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Police are now tracking down the suspects and investigating the motive behind the attack.