Manhunt on for motorist tagged in enforcer’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has launched a manhunt for a motorist who shot and ran over a traffic enforcer on Friday, an official said yesterday.

The incident started when the driver supposedly double-parked his Honda Civic (ZNH-321) along La Salle street in Barangay Silangan at past 11 a.m., said Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD director.

A witness told police that prior to the shooting, he was with the driver when they saw Ernesto Paras Jr. removing the car’s license plate over a traffic violation.

This led to a brief confrontation, after which the driver went back to the car to supposedly retrieve his handgun.

Closed-circuit television footage showed the driver chasing and shooting Paras, then going back to his car and running over the enforcer’s leg as he sped away.

Paras was rushed to the Quezon City Memorial Medical Center but died shortly afterwards.