Cops charge owner of pistol used by PC general’s son in QC shooting

The Quezon City Police District has filed a case of illegal transfer of firearms against the registered owner of the pistol used by Jose Maria Abaya, a late general’s son who shot and killed a van driver and a female passenger in Barangay White Plains on Sept. 1.

PO3 Victorio Guerrero, the case investigator in the shooting, served as complainant against Joseph Tee See, the registered owner of the .40-cal. Glock 22 that Abaya handed over when he surrendered to the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit. See remains at large.

Abaya, son of the late Police Constabulary general Antonio Abaya, was charged with two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms.

In 2012, Abaya was charged with homicide for killing the security officer of a drug rehabilitation facility who came to fetch him after he escaped. The complainant in the 2012 shooting eventually dropped the case.

The QCPD had been looking for See to shed light on how his pistol ended up in Abaya’s possession but he could not be located at his last known address in Malate, Manila.

ABAYA

On Sept. 9, a certain Rene Lorenzo submitted a judicial affidavit through lawyer Maria Angelica de Ramos saying that he witnessed the sale between See and Abaya. The lawyer also brought the deed of sale dated March 14, 2015.

Under Section 41 of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, it is unlawful to transfer possession of any firearm to any person who has not yet obtained the necessary license or permit.

Abaya was charged with two counts of murder for killing Joyce Santos and UV Express driver Ronebert Ycot, and with attempted murder for wounding three other passengers. The victims were in the vehicle that broke down on Kalayaan Avenue on the early evening of Sept. 1, near a food store where the suspect was eating.

When he surrendered, Abaya admitted firing at the van because he thought it was carrying armed men who were tailing him and were out to bring him back to the rehab center.