A gated, upscale subdivision in Makati City was the site of a shooting incident Friday night that left two lady Customs officials wounded.
Shots rang out inside Barangay Magallanes, but the victims managed to escape further harm, thanks to the quick-thinking driver, Maricon Manalo, the 56-year-old officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Customs Formal Entry Division.
Manalo suffered a wound in her right finger while Marietta Lasaca, 60, Customs principal appraiser, was hit on the back.
Both officials are recuperating at the Makati Medical Center.
Another Customs employee who was in the back seat, Cherlene Salazar, was unharmed.
Manalo and Lasaca are residents of Paranaque City while Salazar, an encoder, lives in Pateros City.
Police said the victims were traveling on Victoria St. when another vehicle blocked their path.
Police Major Gideon Ines Jr., Makati police investigation unit chief, said gunmen got out of the car and pointed their guns at the victims, telling them to get out of their vehicle.
When the victims stayed put, one of the gunmen smashed the driver’s side window, and Manalo pushed the stick in reverse and sped off despite the hail of bullets.
The victims managed to reach a barangay outpost to seek assistance as the suspects fled to an unknown destination.
The motive of the attack is unclear as police investigate how the suspects get past village security.
Recovered from the crime scene were 25 spent shells of various firearms.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero strongly condemned the attack and vowed support for the victims.
“The agency will extend the necessary support and assistance to its personnel. We enjoin all Bureau of Customs employees to remain focused on our mission and pray for the speedy recovery of our colleagues,” Guerrero said.
The Customs commissioner also said he will exert all efforts to go after the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.
He said that he has directed the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police in the investigation. (Jel Santos with a report from Betheena Kae Unite)
