Junjun’s aide survives ambush try; ex-VP Binay offers 11-M bounty

Former Vice President (VP) Jejomar Binay on Friday offered 11-million reward to anyone who could give information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects behind the attack on his son's executive secretary in Makati City.

Monalisa Bernardo, 44, executive secretary of former Makati mayor Junjun Binay, survived the ambush try by motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of her house in Makati City Thursday night. She sustained a gunshot wound in her right hand, the slug piercing through her abdomen.

“Handa akong magbigay ng pabuya na 11 milyon para sa anumang impormasyon na magtuturo sa mga nasa likod ng krimen. (I’m ready to offer 11 million for any information that could lead to the identification of the person behind this),” he said in a statement.

The former Vice President said he is saddened by what happened to Bernardo as she is very close to their family, saying she is a friend to them.

“Labis kong ikinalulungkot ang pagkakabaril kay Monalisa “Monette” Bernardo. Isa syang malapit at tapat na kaibigan ng aming pamilya sa nakalipas na tatlong dekada (I am deeply saddened after I learned that Monalisa “Monette” Bernardo was shot. She is a very close and loyal friend to our family for the last three decades),” he said.

The Binay patriarch called on Makati residents to remain calm as some people intend to use what happened to Bernardo for their "personal interest" and create chaos in Makati.

Meanwhile, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay immediately ordered the local police to thoroughly probe the shooting incident involving her brother's executive secretary, saying she will not allow anyone to destroy peace in the city.

“Tahimik at payapa kami dito sa Makati. Hindi ako papayag na sirain ito ng mga gustong manggulo sa aming lungsod. Inaatasan ko ang chief of police na gawin lahat para ma-resolba ang insidente at matukoy kung sino ang nasa likod nito (We are peaceful here in Makati. I will not allow anyone to sow chaos here. I have already ordered the Makati chief of police to do everything to solve the shooting incident and identify who was behind it),” she said.

“Inaatasan ko din ang barangay chairman na makipagtulungan sa mga pulis at agad na ibigay sa kanila ang CCTV footage at anumang materyales na magagamit sa imbestigasyon (I also ordered the barangay chairman to cooperate with the cops and to give the CCTV footage and any material that will be useful to the probe),” Mayor Abby added.