PNP chief offers P200K reward for info on DPWH exec’s attackers
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. on Monday appealed to the public to provide them information that would lead to the capture of the gunmen who shot and seriously wounded a ranking Department of Public Works and Highways official and her driver in Pasay City last June 5.
“We need the support of the public in getting the suspects. It will really mean a lot for us, especially for our investigators. Malaking tulong ang impormasyon ninyo sa amin, please help us,” he said, referring to any information that may lead to the arrest of the attackers of Atty. Maria Rocelle Melliza, the chief of Rights of Ways Acquisition and Legal Division of the DPWH-National Capital Region.
Acorda and SPD director Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft released a video-grabbed photo of one of the gunmen who fired at Atty. Melliza’s vehicle without any provocation around shortly before 8 a.m. last June 5.
The ambush took place along Fortuna Street in Barangay 121, Pasay City.
Kraft said that the victims were on their way to the DPWH main office in Intramuros, Manila when they were shot. The DPWH official suffered a gunshot wound in the head and shoulder while her driver sustained a bullet wound in the body.
The SPD director said the Pasay City Police Station headed by Colonel Froilan Uy are looking into the very big possibility that the attack on Atty. Melliza’s life was ‘work-related.’ He did not elaborate.
The 53-year old lawyer remains at the intensive care unit of a metropolitan hospital while her driver Deo Decena,42, is already out of danger.
He said that a P200,000 cash reward has been raised by a number of SPD stakeholders for any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the gunmen.
Information may be relayed thru the SPD hotline 0998-5987920 or the Pasay City Police Station thru hotline 0998-5987922 with Kraft assuring the public that the identity of the informant will be kept in utmost secrecy.
Kraft said CCTV footages at the area retrieved by Pasay City police investigators showed that the gunmen threw leaflets telling that the DPWH official was targeted due to her ‘sins against the people.’
However, the SPD official said that it merely appeared to be a diversionary tactic and it was apparent that the suspects merely copied the style of New People’s Army urban assassins to mislead the investigation.
He added that CCTV footages also showed that the gunmen fled towards the direction of Cavite.
