A transport vehicle of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was ambushed by armed men after attending a court hearing at the Makati City Regional Trial Court.
The ambush occurred at high noon yesterday, April 7, along CAVITEX.
According to a report released by the BJMP, the vehicle had just come from the court hearing, transporting a 37-year-old Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL), identified as Chinese national Hu Yang.
The BJMP van was en route back to its detention facility in Barangay, Parañaque City when the attack happened.
Initial investigation revealed that the BJMP vehicle was sprayed with bullets in a sudden ambush.
A brief firefight ensued, during which BJMP personnel JO2 Leif Joseph Talanquines sustained a shoulder injury.
With the help of the Parañaque City Police SWAT team, a hot pursuit operation was launched. The suspects’ vehicle eventually crashed into a tree, leading to their arrest.
Among the six arrested suspects were the following Filipino nationals:
- James Bales Lasam
- Jerome Pascua Salvador
- Jerry Calino Ecalde
- John Paul Chua
Also apprehended were two Chinese nationals, identified as Yang Yang Shin, 25, and Wang Hongjie, 25.
The BJMP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are currently conducting further investigation to determine whether the ambush was an attempt to rescue the detained Chinese national.
