EARIST president, driver hurt in Paco ambush

The president of the Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) survived a gun attack in Paco, Manila.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras", CCTV footage showed a motorcycle-riding gunman approach the SUV carrying EARIST president Dr. Editha Pillo and repeatedly fired shots at close range.

The shooting was caught on CCTV video at the corner Pedro Gil and Antonio Isip Sr. streets.

The school official sustained a gunshot in the back while her driver was hit in the arm.

Police Colonel Erwin Idayag, MPD-10 station commander, said the attack on the school official's vehilcle could be related to her work as a school executive.

"With the use of a gun, hindi na siguro puwedeng masasabi na this is only a threat," the officer said.

Pillo said she had once received a death threat in 2014 after becoming president of the school.

"Kung sino ka man, 'di ko alam kung ba't ginawa mo 'to sa akin. Wala naman akong kaaway...Sana ma-konsensiya siya." the school official told GMA News.

At least two officials of EARIST have been shot and killed in the past few years, the first being a school director in 2010. The school's vice president was also killed in a gun attack in 2012.

However, the police said it was too soon to say whether the three attacks on the EARIST officials were related.

Authorities are also not ruling out the possibility of Pillo's driver being the target of the recent hit. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News