Actress' grandma shot dead in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - A 62-year-old woman reportedly the grandmother of teen actress Pauleen Luna was shot dead by armed men in Manila early Wednesday morning, police said. In an interview with GMANews.TV, SPO4 Cesar Sabile of the Manila Police District Station 3 identified the woman as Mercedita Jimenez, also known as Ka Baby, of 2814 Felix Huertas St in Sta Cruz, Manila. Jimenez was shot four times by the suspects around 7 a.m. along Antipolo Street corner Leonor Rivera Street in Manila, police said. She later succumbed to three gun wounds, one on the leg and two on the chest, while being treated at the Chinese General Hospital. One of the suspects, identified as Edison Antonio of Pilar Malugit, Tondo, Manila, was chased and beaten up by bystanders. A .45 caliber pistol was retrieved from the suspect. Antonio is currently detained at the Manila Police District's homicide section. Police said an identification card carried by Antonio showed he is a member of "Guardians Maharlika Inc, Unang Sigaw-Cloverleaf, Quezon City chapter." "May ID nakuha, dito sa imbestigador... 2008 po, bago ito e (His ID is with the investigator...it was dated 2008, so it's new)," said Sabile. Sabile added that the suspect, who was beaten up by citizens, could not speak much but claimed that he was ordered to shoot down the victim. "Hindi makapagsalita dahil bugbog sarado (but he said) inutos raw sa kanya (but) hindi raw niya alam kung sino," said Sabile. (He can't speak much because he was beaten up, but he said that he was ordered to shoot her down though he claimed he didn't know who.) The police officer said the victim is known among the community as a money-lender. "Alam ng mga taong bayan na nagpapautang (The people know she lends money)," he said. Police are still investigating the case. - GMANews.TV