No robbery in murder of woman in San Juan – initial finding

MANILA, Philippines — Police investigating the crime scene in San Juan City where a 63-year-old woman was shot dead and her companion was injured on Thursday morning, said the victims were not robbed in the attack.

PO2 Catherine Capinpin, assistant spokesperson of Eastern Police District, said the gunmen did not appear to have taken anything valuable from the victims, although the police stopped short of discounting robbery as a motive.

“The motive is still under investigation,” Capinpin said instead.

A statement issued to reporters by the Eastern Police District said Susan Tan Uy, a resident of the Mariposa St. in Quezon City, was declared dead on arrival at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center after she was shot in the head while driving a Toyota RAV4, with plate number PHQ 252, by two motorcycle-riding men on Wilson St., at the corner of Ortigas Ave. around 7:30 a.m.

Capinpin said Uy’s female companion–who was not identified by the police at her own request as she feared for her life–also had to be rushed to the hospital.

A splinter from the sport utility vehicle’s windshield that was hit by a bullet hit the companion’s hand.

“The (fatality’s) companion has since been discharged from the hospital,” Capinpin added.

Capinpin said that initial investigation has shown that Uy and her companion had just come from Wilson St. and were about to “maneuver” at Ortigas Avenue “to buy flowers (from) a nearby flowershop” when they were shot by the gunmen who appeared to have been following them on board a motorcycle.

“The suspects opened fire several times while both vehicles (the SUV and the motorcycle) were moving. The police later recovered four spent shells from inside the SUV but no weapon was recovered,” Capinpin explained.

She said Uy and her companion were rushed to the hospital by responding policemen.

The gunmen, meanwhile, sped off toward Edsa, based on witness accounts.

According to the EPD statement, Chief Supt. Elmer Jamias, the EPD director, has also already directed the city police’s officer in charge, Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas, to conduct a “thorough investigation.”

Alanas said tracker teams have been sent out to locate the gunmen.

It added footage from closed-circuit television cameras nearby were already being reviewed “for possible identification” of the gunmen.
According to Capinpin, Uy has been separated from her husband for 20 years.

Uy reportedly has a child who is a doctor.  (With a report from Aie Balagtas See, Inquirer). SFM