Authorities rule out robbery as motive behind ex-tabloid editor’s slay

Photo courtesy of Usec. Joel Egco’s Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities ruled out robbery as the motive behind the August 17 fatal shooting of a former tabloid editor in Quezon City.

Undersecretary Joel Sy Eco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), said on Friday this was the result of a deeper investigation of the agency and the police on the death of former Remate editor Gwenn Salamida.

Salamida was killed while her partner Oliver Perona was hurt when a gunman barged into her beauty salon and opened fire at them on Kaingin Road, Brgy Apolonio Samson on Tuesday afternoon, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said. Police initially considered robbery as the motive of the crime.

READ: Ex-tabloid editor shot dead in QC salon; Eleazar orders thorough probe 

“We have officially ruled out ROBBERY as a motive. All her belongings, money and jewelries were intact when the crime was committed,” Egco said in a Facebook post.

“It can be deduced then that the gunman was hired to do the hit,” he added.

Egco also said that Perona is now in stable condition and is recuperating.

The QCPD has also activated the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Salamida, according to Egco.

“There are many other developments which I cannot disclose,” Egco pointed out. “Rest assured that no matter how difficult, we will work to attain justice in the name of Gwenn’s very young daughters, who were also at the scene of the crime at the time of the attacks.”

“Her eldest, my goddaughter, needs immediate intervention to avoid trauma,” he added.

https://www.facebook.com/joelsyegco/posts/1500398360297054

JPV