Businesswoman shot dead during traffic jam in Parañaque

MANILA — A 66-year-old woman was killed after she was shot several times inside her vehicle in Parañaque on Tuesday.

A report reaching Senior Supt. Ariel Andrade, the city’s chief of police, said Yolanda Dela Rosa Manatad was on her way home to Gatchalian Subdivision on board her black Isuzu Sportivo, with plate number PRY-677, when she was attacked around 4 p.m.

Andrade said Manatad had just attended a hearing from a nearby court at that time and was cruising along San Antonio Avenue, Valley 1, in Barangay San Antonio.

Andrade said police later learned that the court hearing the victim attended was in connection with a “trespass to dwelling” case. The victim was a respondent in that case. Andrade said that on the same day, the judge issued an order declaring the case had been settled. Andrade said the victim, who had a money-lending business, was also a complainant in estafa cases lodged in other courts.

“The victim was into the money-lending business,” Andrade said. “We are still looking at the details of the court case where the victim was involved in. Maybe that has something to do with (the killing),” the police chief said.

“We are looking at all possible angles in our investigation,” Andrade said, as he added robbery had been discounted as a motive.

Andrade said witnesses told the cops the gunman had been trailing the victim. When the victim got caught in traffic, the killer got off his motorcycle, approached the right side of the victim’s vehicle and fired his gun. After that, he went to the driver’s side of the Sportivo, opened the door, and shot the victim again. He fled on board his motorcycle.

The report said Manatad was shot in the breast and back multiple times.

Andrade said four empty shells of a 9mm pistol were recovered right outside the vehicle, but no weapon was found.

“There was also a bullet hole on the outside of the vehicle, on the right window,” Andrade said.

Manatad, meanwhile, was rushed to the Unihealth Hospital by responding authorities who had been alerted about the killing.

She was, however, declared dead on arrival.  –Kristine Felisse Mangunay, SFM