LIMAY, Bataan — The manager of the Philippine Ports Authority in Bataan was killed while his administrative officer was seriously injured in a daring ambush by car-riding gunmen along the busy Roman Highway here late afternoon of Friday.
Chief Inspector Melanio Santiago, Limay police chief, said Froilan Abella, 60, PPA – Bataan manager, resident of Bacoor, Cavite, was declared dead an hour after he was rushed to the St. Michael Hospital in Orion town.
Jocelyn Reyes, 49, PPA procurement officer and acting administrative officer, resident of San Nicolas, Cavite, was seriously injured and underwent operation at the same hospital.
Jocelyn’s husband Christian Reyes, 37, PPA driver, was not hurt but still suffering from trauma and is with his wife in a room on the second floor guarded by PPA security guard and Army soldiers.
Investigation showed that the three came from the PPA office at the Port of Lamao and on their way home to Cavite when ambushed at about 5:30 in the afternoon.
A gray SUV overtook from the slow/ outer lane and started firing at Abella’s vehicle.
Some 20 shots were fired mostly hitting the window of the front passenger seat where Abella was seated, police said. Jocelyn was at the back seat.
Police recovered from the crime scene one empty shell for .45 and nine from 9mm handguns. Abella’s wife who arrived from Cavite said her husband regularly went home every Friday afternoon and reported back to work every Monday.
She said that her husband was a jolly good person and had not told her of any threat to his life. She begged off to face the camera.
