Lawyer’s slain attacker in failed QC ambush a dismissed cop

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday said that the slain attacker of a lawyer in a failed ambush was a dismissed policeman.

Eleazar told Balitanghali in an interview that Police Officer 1 Mark Boquela Ayeras, 32, was dismissed from the service after failing to report to his unit at the National Capital Region Police Office.

He said Ayeras' last unit was the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

"Tinanggal ito sa serbisyo at na-AWOL siya dahil meron siyang hindi magandang record at hindi naman nakakapagtaka na siya nga ay mabilang sa isang gunman," Eleazar said.

Ayeras died and his companion, identified as John Paul Cerillo, was injured after a failed ambush on lawyer Argel Joseph Cabatbat at past midnight at the corner of East Avenue and EDSA in Quezon City.

Ayeras, Cerillo and a third assailant were on board two motorcycles when they fired at Cabatbat, who was driving his car.

Cabatbat survived the hail of bullets from Ayeras' group. He chased the suspects and ran them over, killing the dismissed policeman and injuring Cerillo, who is still confined at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The third assailant was able to escape.

Ayeras was identified through his police ID, which Cabatbat recovered from his body.

Running gunbattle

In a statement, the QCPD said that Cabatbat was on board a Mitsubishi Montero with three companions.

The QCPD said that based on its investigations, one of Cabatbat's companions fired back at Ayeras and hit the dismissed policeman in the body. The gun used by Cabatbat's companion is owned by the lawyer, the police added.

Eleazar said Cabatbat was placed under the custody of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation Detection Unit because of the ongoing investigation on the incident.

"Napakahalaga ng kanyang statement para malaman natin 'yung mga pangyayari and of course we will rely also on other sources. We are checking all CCTV cameras in the area at iba pang mga witnesses," Eleazar said.

Eleazar said that according to Cabatbat, he received death threats before the failed ambush. The lawyer said the attack could be related to his work, he added.

Eleazar said Cabatbat had given him names of people who may be behind the attack. He said they are verifying the lawyer's testimony.

"Ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay bina-validate natin 'yon at we are obtaining other leads and information coming from other sources para magkaroon ito ng magandang basehan," he said.

"But right now ayun nga natutuwa naman tayo at hindi naman nasaktan itong victim din bagamat tinitingan natin yung ibang mga sirkumstansya dito at hindi pa tapos ang ating pag-iimbestiga," he added.

The QCPD said the firearms involved in the ambush-turned-running gun battle, including Cabatbat's 9mm pistol and Ayeras' .45 pistol, are now in the custody of the police. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News