Probe begins into killing of Bulacan bet’s consultant, 2 others

DEATHS ON THE ROADSIDE This passing motorist on Saturday cannot help but take a look at the Ford Everest that Bryan Villaflor, Bulacan congressional district candidate Victor Silverio’s information technology consultant, was driving when he and two others were ambushed on Friday, March 21, at the Maharlika Highway. There was no police cordon on site despite the fact that the vehicle was the scene of three deaths. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, BULACAN—Police have launched an investigation into the gun attack on Friday in San Rafael town of Bulacan that killed three people, including an information technology (IT) consultant of a congressional candidate, and the wounding of seven others.

Police Maj. Jaymalin Udal, information chief of the Bulacan police, said in a phone interview on Saturday that the provincial police office has created a special task force to speed up the investigation and identify and arrest the suspects in the ambush.

The victims—Bryan Villaflor, 27, an IT specialist and social media operator of Bulacan third district congressional candidate Victor Silverio; Villaflor’s girlfriend, identified only as “Jam;” and his security aide Jayvee Mariano—were waylaid at 3:15 p.m. along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Capihan while on their way to a supermarket in Baliwag City.

Villaflor, who was driving his car, and Mariano, who was at the front passenger seat, died instantly. Jam, who was sitting on the back seat, was declared dead on arrival at Ace Hospital in Baliwag City.

Investigations revealed that the victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds after the suspects, who were in another car, opened fire at them.

Police said footage from a nearby closed-circuit television camera revealed that the suspects, still on board their vehicle, stopped in the middle of the road and continued to fire at Villaflor’s Ford Everest, which had already stopped on the shoulder of the road following the initial attack. Bullets also hit other vehicles.

Bystanders hurt

In a social media post on Friday night, Silverio, son of Bulacan third district Rep. Lorna Silverio, vowed to get justice for Villaflor.

He said Villaflor was taken from them “in the most drastic, savage and devastating manner.”

He described Villaflor as a friend and a fellow advocate for truth.

Udal said that 15-year-old “Jana,” who was on board a passing passenger jeep, was hit by a stray bullet and now confined in a hospital. Jana’s companion was also injured but was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Two other persons on board a motorcycle with sidecar and three passengers of a Toyota Avanza were also wounded in the gun attack but were also discharged from a hospital, she said.

Police recovered 25 spent cartridges of possible caliber 5.56 ammunition from the crime scene.