By Angelo L. Gutierrez (The Philippine Star)


MANILA, Philippines - An employee of Honda Cars Philippines was gunned down yesterday afternoon while transporting car parts from Laguna to the company's branch in Caloocan City.

Johnny Fetalvero, general manager of Honda Cars Kalookan, Inc., informed philstar.com about the killing of their parts expediter identified as Tairick Bonto, 24, a resident of Poblacion 2, GMA, Cavite.

Fetalvero, quoting a police report he obtained from the Sta. Rosa City Police Station, said that Bonto was shot dead by a lone gunman along Balibago Tagaytay Road, Barangay Don Jose past 4 p.m. yesterday.

"He just came from Honda Cars Philippines to get parts and was on his way to Honda Kalookan," Fetalvero said in his email to philstar.com.

In a police report prepared by Police officer 2 Aries Lazares, officer-on-case, said that based on initial investigations, Bonto was shot by an unidentified gunman after he stepped out of a Honda Cars delivery van, which the victim parked in front of Amherst Pharmaceutical Inc.

Lazares said the gunman fired at Bonto twice, killing the victim. The gunman escaped right after the shooting incident.

Police failed to determine where the gunman ran since the police station was informed at least 10 minutes after the incident.

Fetalvero said that Bonto sustained gunshot wounds in the back and his head.

"No witnesses came forward. The police are looking at traffic altercation and attempted robbery as possible causes," he said.

Fetalvero urged residents in the area who may have witnessed the killing to come forward and aide the police in its investigation.