Security guard shoots dead family driver over ‘invalid’ vehicle sticker

MANILA, Philippines—Quezon City police have launched a manhunt for a security guard of a gated subdivision, who allegedly shot dead a family driver during an altercation over the validity of the latter’s vehicle access sticker.

Police identified the suspect as Ronald Omadle, 23, a guard of the JPL Security Agency assigned to United North Fairview Homeowner’s Association Inc. in Barangay North Fairview.

Omadle was identified by his fellow watchmen as the one who shot dead Noel Lleona, 23, family driver of a resident of the subdivision.

Case investigator PO2 Jogene Hernandez said Lleona, who was driving a van, was flagged down by Omadle at Gate 1 of the subdivision on Pound Street at around 3 p.m. because the vehicle’s access sticker was supposedly invalid.

The sticker on the van was issued by the previous homeowners association, but there was apparently a new group issuing stickers to residents with vehicles, Hernandez said.

But after being refused entry into the village, Lleona inched the van closer to the barrier, infuriating Omadle.

“The suspect got angry and shot the driver with his service shotgun at close range,” Hernandez said.

The bullet hit Lleona on the head, killing him on the spot while Omadle fled the scene, leaving his shotgun behind, Hernandez said.

The other two security guards immediately reported the incident to their boss, who then called the police to investigate.

Another officer, PO2 Julius Balbuena, later learned that Lleona works as a family driver for an uncle, Ricardo Galing.