This time, bikeiding gunmen shoot doc

By NITZ ARANCON and A.L. RICALDE
Correspondents

TWO still unidentified gunmen attacked and wounded an internist in Barangay 35 on Tuesday night.

The physician, Dr. Zaynab Abejuela, was wounded in a vigilante-style attack that has become a familiar pattern in the city and elsewhere: two hooded men riding on a motorcycle shooting their target and then speeding off.

Authorities said Dr. Abejuela was with two other people in a white Toyota Fortuner with license plates ANA-5840 when the motorcycleiding men shot the physician near the corner of Yacapin Extension and Quirino St. at around 8 pm Tuesday.

Chief Insp. Harvey Abellanosa, Cogon police chief, said Dr. Abejuela suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. She was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Investigators said the 45-year old Abejuela, a resident of Barangay Carmen, was shot as her vehicle moved towards a hotel. The physician was going home when the shooting took place.

She was seated beside the driver, 34-year old Ronie Quinones of Barangay Consolacion, when the attack was carried out. Quinones’s live-in partner was seated at the back.

The assailants sped off towards the eastern direction while Quinones rushed the doctor to the hospital.

SPO1 Neil Apollo de las Alas said the gun used was a caliber .357 revolver. He said the bullet removed from Abejuela has been taken to a crime laboratory for examination.

Chief Insp. Abellanosa said witnesses said the suspects rode a red XRM motorcycle, wore gray jackets and jeans with no crash helmets but they were hooded.

Investigators are facing a blank wall at presstime although SPO1 de las Alas said there was one “person of interest.”

Abellanosa said investigators have asked establishments near the crime scene to show their CCTV recordings in the hope of identifying the suspects.