Faces of 2 suspects in photojournalist’s attack bared as QCPD asks public’s help

This photo from the Quezon City Police District shows the faces of two “persons of interest” in the brazen attack on photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad on June 29, 2023, as taken from a CCTV footage.

MANILA, Philippines —  The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Wednesday revealed the faces of two suspects in the shooting of photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad and his relatives last June 29.

Authorities decided to bare the identities of the two as they asked the public for help in capturing the suspects. The photos released by the QCPD bearing the faces of the two individuals were lifted from CCTV footage before the attack.

“We are now presenting to you the faces captured in different CCTV footage of suspect one and suspect two – pareho ang dalawa na ‘yan na naka motorsiklo,” QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicholas Torre III said during a press briefing at their headquarters in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.

(We are now presenting the faces captured in different CCTV footage of suspect one and suspect two – both were riding motorcycles.)

READ: Photojournalist’s work, role as drug witness ‘motives’ for ambush

“Na-enhance natin ang kanilang mga picture and I believe the public will be able to help us identify these two suspects,” he added.

(We have enhanced their pictures, and I believe the public will be able to help us identify these two suspects.)

The QCPD chief said one of the two suspects served as a spotter or watcher while the other was among the gunmen. Police are considering a total of five persons of interest in the shooting of Abiad and his relatives in Barangay Masambong last month.

READ: 5 ‘persons of interest’ identified in photojournalist attack – PNP

READ: 5 suspects in Abiad shooting identified

Torre also said that the faces of the three other suspects will likewise be revealed to the public soon. Their pictures are currently being rendered from several CCTV footage gathered by the QCPD.

Citing an ongoing investigation of the special task force created for Abiad’s case, Torre said the suspects are now outside Metro Manila.

He appealed to the suspects to surrender to authorities peacefully as tracker teams were deployed to hunt them down.

READ: CHR urges better protection for media workers after latest attack

“Ang tracker teams na lalapit sa kanila, if ever, ay fully armed tactical teams because these are very dangerous personalities. Sa ngayon, alam ko nanunuod sila, so I think it’s best for their interest to just peacefully surrender,” Torre said.

(The tracker teams who will approach them are fully armed tactical teams because they are very dangerous personalities. Right now, I know they are watching, so it’s best for their interest to surrender peacefully.)

READ: PNP pursuing suspects, leads in attack on photojournalist

He then said they are poised to file complaints against the suspects whether they capture them or not.

“May idea kami kung sino sila, i-fi-file na namin ang kaso. ‘Pag ‘di namin sila makuha this week, kung hindi Friday, Monday siguro tatapusin lang namin ‘yung mga paperworks,” he said.

(We already know who they are and will file the case. Even if we don’t catch them this week, if not Friday, probably Monday, we will just finish the paperwork.)

READ: PNP pursuing suspects, leads in attack on photojournalist

On July 3, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the police might be dealing with a professional crime group in the Abiad case.

Torre said that QCPD investigators discovered that the vehicle used by the suspects had a license plate from a different vehicle. Later, he added, probers traced the license plate to a Bulacan resident.

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