BY MINKA TIANGCO / JEFFREY DAMICOG
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MANILA chief inquest prosecutor Jovencio Senados Bagares was gunned down Tuesday morning by unidentified men onboard a black sports utility vehicle (SUV) along Quirino Highway in Paco, Manila.
The Ermita Police Station reported that Bagares, chief inquest officer of the Manila Regional Trial Court, 62, a resident of Calamba, Laguna, was travelling on board his red Toyota Yaris car along Quirino Highway corner Anakbayan at around 11:05 a.m. when he was attacked.
A closed circuit television footage showed that the fiscal’s car was blocked by two vehicles before he was shot.
He died from bullet wounds in the head and body. His driver was unharmed.
Investigation showed that the gunmen were onboard a black Mitsubishi Montero SUV with plate number ABG 8133.
Police have yet to determine if the killing has something to do with the prosecutor’s job.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra immediately directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the killing of Bagares.
“We are shocked by the audacity of this attack. It highlights once again the grave peril that our prosecutors face each day in the discharge of their duties. I have ordered the NBI to immediately step in and investigate this murder,” Guevarra told reporters.
For his part, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malconteno vowed that justice will be sought for the killing of Senados.
“We condemn this to the highest level,” Malcontento stated.
“We will avail all the resources of the DoJ to obtain justice,” he assured. (Minka Tiangco, Jeffrey Damicog)