QC official slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City official was killed in an ambush along Commonwealth Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Manuel “Nonoy” Buncio, 72, was declared dead on arrival at FEU Hospital, said retired general Elmo San Diego, head of the city government’s department of public order and safety.

One of the responding policemen managed to shoot and kill one of the four suspects, said Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

San Diego said Buncio headed the city government’s Task Force Commonwealth under the office of Mayor Herbert Bautista. The task force is dedicated to maintaining peace and order along the major thoroughfare, including operations against illegal vendors and those affecting the flow of traffic, he said.

Buncio was reportedly standing in front of the task force’s outpost when four men on two motorcycles passed by and shot at him at past 4 p.m.

Policemen were posted nearby and managed to engage the four suspects in a gunfight, said Chief Inspector Ritchie Claravall.

Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, QCPD deputy director for administration, said the slain suspect was Rommel Huldoz, a village watchman of Barangay Commonwealth. He said the policeman who managed to kill Huldoz was PO1 Olinad Sagui.

In his report to QCPD director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega, Pagdilao said Buncio had a gun but was not able to fight off his attackers.

He also said they are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack, but noted they were looking into the possibility that the ambush may be work-related.

Pagdilao noted that there have been past operations against illegal vendors in the area.