Nikki Magbanua, Paula Villarosa and Rakki Raquinel
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Gunmen struck in broad daylight on a busy main road here killing a businessman in what looks like a daring assassination with one of the killers finishing off the victim just a block away from a police station.
A deputy police chief say the killing could be linked to a property dispute as the main motive though drugs is the secondary one being eyed.
The killing is the third latest incident over seven days since Wednesday last week after two reported government assets were murdered – Jose Allan Braza on 8 June and Jestoni Sabare on 11 June.
The initial police probe showed Jeffrey Sy Keng Seng (initially reported as Jeffrey Sy) was driving his car, a white Nissan Patrol SUV, when the two shooters, both on motorcycles, first shot at the car at the busy intersection of Lacson and BS Aquino around noontime today, 14 June 2022.
Station 2 deputy chief, Lt. Jovito Pastrana, said Keng Seng was already wounded but he continued to drive westward until he crashed his car into a vacant lot at the intersection of BS Aquino Drive and Gatuslao Street in Barangay 3, only several meters away from Station 2.
A witness told DNX one of the gunmen got down his motorcycle and went to Seng who was already sprawled inside the car.
The witness said she heard what sounded like a gunshot but could not confirm if the victim was finished off.
Probers found spent shells at the BS Aquino-Lacson intersection while some radio stations report five shells were found.
Jeffrey’s father, John, owns a sugar plantation and a beach resort, radio reports said.
Pastrana added they are looking at a family dispute over properties while drugs is another motive.
