MPD: 2 cars used in fiscal’s slay

Police investigators have traced the license plate of the black sport utility vehicle (SUV) used by the gunmen in the fatal ambush of Manila chief prosecutor Jovencio Senados to another car.

Capt. Henry Navarro, who heads the Manila Police Disrict (MPD) homicide unit, said their initial findings showed that the SUV’s license plate ABG-1833 was registered to a sedan.

Police have requested the Land Transportation Office to verify the ownership of the SUV.

Senados, 62, of Calamba, Laguna was on his way to the Manila city hall when he was ambushed along Quirino Highway on Tuesday.

Senados died at the scene from gunshots to the head and body. His driver, Felgie Bagares, was unhurt.

Navarro said they are looking into the possibility that two vehicles were used in the ambush: a red sedan that blocked Senados’ car to slow him down and the SUV used by the gunmen.

Police said armed men in the SUV went near the victim’s vehicle, opened its window and fired at Senados.

Both cars fled toward Paco after the attack, witnesses said.

Homicide lead investigator Donald Panaligan said ballistics examination showed that a 5.56 mm handgun was used in the killing.

Panaligan said four spent shells were recovered at the scene.

Probers said surveillance footage showed that the SUV started tailing Senados’ car from Canlubang, Laguna until they reached Manila.

Isko condemns killing

Mayor Isko Moreno condemned the killing of Senados and ordered MPD director Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda to do everything to solve the case.

Moreno said the broad daylight attack was an affront to the judiciary and to the right of the people of Manila to a peaceful way of life.

“The perpetrators of this crime have no respect to the institutions in place and this should not go unpunished,” the mayor said.

Miranda said he has created a special task force group to probe the incident.

Probers said it is possible that the killing of Senados was job-related.

“But we will investigate all possible angles,” Navarro said.

He said they would look into the cases handled by Senados as inquest division chief of the Manila prosecutor’s office.

Among the cases Senados handled was the murder of Butuan, Masbate vice mayor Charlie Yuson III in Sampaloc last year.