4-year-old nephew of photojournalist dies after QC shooting —police

The four-year-old nephew of photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad has died after the ambush on their vehicle in Quezon City on June 29, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) confirmed on Monday.

In an interview on GTV’s Balitanghali, QCPD public information office chief Police Captain Johanna Lavarias was asked about the injury the child sustained in the attack.

“Siya po ay tinamaan sa ulo po [He was shot in the head],” Lavarias said.

On June 29 Abiad, a photographer for Remate Online, was in a car with some relatives in Barangay Masambong when another vehicle blocked their way at around 3 p.m. A man wearing a black jacket then got out of the car and started firing at them before fleeing. A motorcycle rider was also seen serving as a lookout.

The police said six other victims were inside the vehicle, including three minors.

A bystander was also hit by a stray bullet, according to the police.

Other injured victims are now in stable condition, Lavarias said.

Authorities have already identified five persons of interest, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said on Monday.

Fajardo said authorities discovered that the plate number of the vehicle used by the perpetrators was registered to a different vehicle. The owner of the other vehicle was traced.

According to her, their plates had been switched.

With this development, Fajardo said there is an indication that the shooting of the media practitioner involved a “professional group.”

“So nag-iingat po tayo sa pagbibigay ng information [So we are being cautious in giving out information],” she said.

Fajardo said QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Nick Torre had expressed optimism that the perpetrators will be captured before the end of the week because “they are hot on trails of these five persons of interest.” — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News