Trike driver slain in Manila; bad money deal eyed

MANILA, Philippines—A 35-year-old tricycle driver was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Manila early Monday, allegedly over his wife’s money lending business.

The assailant armed with a “sumpak” (homemade gun), fled with a cohort after the attack on Joselito Tipan, a resident of Row 16 Unit 5 Block 4 at the ING Habitat for Humanity, in Baseco Compound, Port Area.

Tipan died instantly from pellet wounds in the neck.

PO3 Jupiter Tajonera, of the Manila Police District homicide section, said the incident happened at around 5:50 a.m. Monday outside Tipan’s house.

Tajonera revealed that before the incident, Tipan was preparing his tricycle to ply his route when a man approached him. Without a word, the man whipped out a homemade shotgun and shot the tricycle driver.

Residents in the area, the case investigator said, tried to run after the shooter but was retreated, fearing he might turn his gun on them. They saw the gunman flee with a companion, who acted as a lookout.

The case investigator told the INQUIRER that a day before the shooting, several men had been asking residents in the area for information on Tipan but thought nothing of the queries.

Tajonera pointed out that the killing might have something to do with the money lending business of the victim’s wife. The assailants, he said, might have held a grudge against the Tipan couple over a bad deal.

The victim’s body was brought to the Cruz funeral parlor for autopsy while homicide section investigators conduct follow-up operations for the identification and arrest of the assailants.