PORT CHIEF DIES IN AMBUSH

LIMAY, Bataan – Police are still facing a blank wall on the ambush slaying of a top Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) official in broad daylight Friday along a busy highway near the Petron refinery here.

LIMAY, Bataan – Police are still facing a blank wall on the ambush slaying of a top Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) official in broad daylight Friday along a busy highway near the Petron refinery here.

Froilan Abella, acting Bataan port manager, died while undergoing treatment at St. Michael Hospital in Orion, about 10 kilometer from the ambush site.

The other passenger, Jocelyn Reyes, 49, acting PPA administration chief, was wounded in the attack while Christian Reyes, the driver, was unharmed.

Yesterday, doctors decalred Jocelyn already out of danger. Abella and company came from PPA Lamao and were on their way to Bacoor, Cavite aboard a Toyota Fortuner when a gray sports utility vehicle (SUV) overtook them at around 5:30 p.m. and sprayed the car with bullets.

The suspects then fled toward Balanga City. Police are still determining how many suspects participated in the attack.

The make and plate number of the suspects’ vehicle could not be determined.

Senior Inspector Melanio Santiago, Limay police chief, said Abella was in the front seat during the ambush.

Initial investigation suggests that the ambush was the work of professional killers who had Abella as their main target and shot him repeatedly in close range.

At least 20 shots were fired from two handguns, according to the police. Empty shells of caliber 45 and 9 mm pistols were recovered from the scene.

Police are studying dash cam footages provided by a concerned citizen to look for leads.