Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday, June 30, condemned the attack in Barangay Masambong, in the city on Thursday, June 29, on a media practitioner and four other persons, including two minors, that caused them injuries.
"On behalf of the entire Quezon City Local Government Unit, the Quezon City Police Department, and all peace-loving QCitizens, I would like to express my outrage and condemnation of the shooting incident that happened in Barangay Masambong," the mayor said.
(Photo from Quezon City Police District/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The incident happened at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, along Corumi St., corner Gazan St., Brgy. Masambong, where the victim, Joshua Abad, 37, an online photographer from Remate, and seven of his relatives, were ambushed by four unidentified men while they were onboard their Ford Everest vehicle.
The suspects fired guns towards the vehicle causing injuries to Abiad; his brother, Renato, 47;a and two minors aged four and eight.
It added that Renato Abiad was able to drive their vehicle to a hospital despite his injury.
Jeffrey Cao, a bystander, was hit by a stray bullet and was also given medical attention.
The suspects immediately fled towards Del Monte, Ave., Quezon City using a silver Toyota Vios and a black Yamaha Mio motorcycle
"Although we are greatly relieved that the victim, photo-journalist Joshua Abad, has now been declared out of danger, this has not diminished our determination to bring his cowardly attackers to justice," Belmonte said.
"Wala pong lugar ang karahasan at pananakot sa Quezon City, maging sa mga miyembro ng media o kahit sino pa man. Titiyakin po namin na mananagot ang mga salarin ng krimeng ito (Violence and threat have no place in Quezon City, whether to members of the media or anyone else. We will make sure that the perpetrators of this crime are held accountable)," she added.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that a thorough investigation and manhunt operations are being conducted against the suspects.
QCPD Director Nicolas Torre III urged the public to provide any relevant information that will lead in the resolution of the case and in the arrest of the suspects