2 men tagged as persons of interest in fiscal’s slay

The composite facial sketches of two of the suspects —QCPD PHOTOS

Two men on motorcycles who were spotted waiting near one of the gates of the Quezon City Hall compound are now being considered persons of interest in the killing of a city prosecutor on Friday.

“Based on the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage, we can see that they were waiting for [Deputy City Prosecutor Rogelio] Velasco to leave,” Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, told reporters on Sunday.

He said that one rider acted as a “spotter” while the other followed the victim.

The Quezon City police also released composite facial sketches of two gunmen based on the testimonies of witnesses at the crime scene.

One suspect was described as around 30 to 40 years old, 5’6” in height, of medium build and a fair complexion.

The other who wore a mask was said to stand 5’7” in height, also of medium build and a fair complexion.

At 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Velasco was shot dead by at least four assailants while inside his vehicle on Holy Spirit Drive at Barangay Holy Spirit.

The suspects, aboard a white Toyota Innova with plate number NXR 256, cut off Velasco’s red Innova that ferried him and his two daughters.

At least four armed men stepped out and fired at his vehicle more than 15 times.

NPS statement

The National Prosecution Service (NPS) has expressed alarm over the continuing attacks on state prosecutors.

In a statement, acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. said the murder of Velasco “sends a clear message that these shameless perpetrators are not afraid of anything or anyone.”

“Nonetheless, our voices will remain vigilant and will not simply be silenced by these atrocious acts,” he said. —With a report from Marlon Ramos