Injured	Killed
0	0

Date: 25 June 2010
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/ambush-target-escapes-safe

CEBU CITY — A marketing manager of a cement firm in southern Cebu survived an ambush at noon Friday.

Nestor Zamora, 45, was driving his white Ford Everest from his office at the Insular Life building along Gen. Maxilom Ave. From his office, he drove through Gorordo Ave. and made a right turn to the Ayala Access road, on his way to have lunch.

Two men on a motorcycle suddenly overtook his vehicle and shot him from the left side several times.

Bullets from the Ingram machine pistol failed to penetrate, as Zamora’s vehicle was equipped with bullet-proof windows. Only the side mirror and the window glass were cracked, while a bullet damaged the side of the SUV’s hood.

Witnesses said Zamora fired back several times before speeding off to a nearby mall’s parking lot. The string of gunshots was heard from the nearby Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), just one building away from where the ambush occurred.

Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team led by Chief Inspector Arnel Banzon and Chief Inspector George Ylanan ran to the area.

The SUV and the motorcycle were gone, but bystanders pointed to a man armed with an Ingram machine pistol walking along the side road of the Cebu Business Park. He was left behind by his companion.

Banzon said they chased the man through the field and found him walking along the road.
     
Orlando Sagnoy of Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City initially denied any involvement.

However, after he was taken to the CCPO for investigation, he cooperated, which led to the arrest of motorcycle driver Roberto Tercero of Mohon, Toledo City, and the alleged mastermind, Jerome Noel, a contractor of Horseshoe Hills, Banawa, Cebu City.

They were arrested about two hours after the shooting.

Later on, civilians alerted police and security guards about an Ingram that was left behind in a crevice of an acacia tree inside the Cebu Business Park.

Police are yet to establish the motive for the attempt.

Zamora, marketing manager of Taiheyo Cement based in San Fernando town, has survived similar attempts before.

He survived an ambush on June 2, 2007, as he was driving in his Isuzu D-Max along F. Cabahug St.

Two weeks ago, Zamora told police, the same men tried to kill him but failed because their gun did not work.

Zamora declined to be interviewed when approached by some reporters. However, Superintendent Pablo Labra II said Zamora, a gun club member and owner of a licensed .45 pistol, remembered he managed to fire six shots.

Police have yet to establish a link between Zamora and Noel.

CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said they are trying to find out if a woman could somehow link them both and if this led to the foiled attempt. Initially, he said Zamora did not tell them much about a motive and said he did not know Noel.

Noel refused to comment when asked by reporters if it was true he planned the murder. He only shook his head.

After Sagnoy’s arrest, police questioned him until he agreed to cooperate.

This led to the arrest of Tercero, who was tricked into meeting Sagnoy at the JY Square Mall.

After Tercero’s arrest, they also arranged an entrapment to make Noel appear.

He was arrested after he appeared. They confiscated from Noel a 9mm Glock pistol and some sticks of marijuana cigarettes.

Ylanan said he failed to show them a license or a permit to carry the gun.

Tercero reportedly works for Noel. In an interview with reporters, Tercero said all he did was drive the motorcycle. He was not as talkative as Sagnoy, though, and kept quiet when too many microphones and recorders were brought before him.

Sagnoy, for his part, said Tercero arranged everything and told him who they were targeting. He said he did not know Noel, but that Tercero was a friend.

He alleged that Noel offered to pay them P15,000, and initially gave them P5,000 as a down payment.

Police recovered several empty shells, a helmet and a paper bag containing a photograph and a silencer. (Mia E. Abellana of Sun.Star Cebu)