MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday said its Cebu District Office is already probing the case of a lawyer and her son who were attacked in Mandaue City on September 1.
Giselle Dumlao, NBI spokesperson, told reporters via text message that the family of Karen Quiñanola-Gonzales requested the NBI to conduct the investigation.
Arnel Pura, the NBI agent in-charge, told the media in an interview on Tuesday that a sister of Gonzales sent them an e-mail the day after the shooting, requesting for assistance.
Pura said the NBI will treat Gonzales' case as a “command" or priority case.
The Commission on Human Rights in Region VII is conducting a motu propio probe, according to Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia.
Gonzales, 43, and 19-year-old son, Jeremy, were on board a sedan when unidentified men fired at them along Hernan Cortes Street at around 9 p.m.
Reports said Gonzales sustained gunshot wounds to the neck while her son suffered minor injuries. They are now recovering.
Gonzales is a lawyer for the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) and heads the Business and Marketing Department.
The CPA is hoping that the perpetrators “answer for their crimes to the fullest extent of the law”.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter is offering PHP50,000 for information leading to the arrest of suspects.
The Board of Trustees of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu High School Alumni Association said it is deeply shocked and distressed by the news about the ambush on the Class 1996 alumna.
Gonzales also obtained her Mass Communications degree from UP and finished her law studies at University of San Carlos-Cebu City. (PNA)
