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DoTC official, companion wounded in Ortigas ambush

By Jason Faustino

06/04/2009

An official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC)who testified in the controversial ZTE-NBN deal and his unidentified companion were wounded when four armed men fired at their vehicle while they were on their way to the office along Ortigas in Pasig City.

The wounded were identified as DoTC Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja who was inside a black Toyota Hilux pickup traversing Ortigas Extension in Sta. Lucia Village when the assailants fired at their vehicle at 9:35 a.m. yesterday.

PO3 Joven Alfonso of the Pasig City police said the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital and were already in “stable condition.”

“Nandoon na lahat ang tao natin. At nakilala natin si Asec kasi siya mismo ang nagpakilala sa sarili niya sa mga first respondents natin,” Alfonso said.

Supt. Ramon de Jesus said it was Soneja himself who instructed one of his relatives to coordinate with investigators on his behalf while he was undergoing medical treatment.

Initial investigation showed Soneja of the DoTC Planning and Development sustained at least one gunshot wound to his shoulder and the left side of his body. At least four to five bullets pierced through the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Investigators said at the time of the shooting, traffic in the area was heavy which allowed two of the four suspects to approach the victims’ vehicle and fire shots at close range.

A woman, who witnessed the attack, said the suspects casually walked toward the victims’ vehicle and fired at close range.

The witness also described the suspects as young-looking. “Naka-polo na parang dark blue na parang gray na parang pang-driver yung polo niya… maliit.”

Two of the attackers fled on foot while their two accomplices sped away on a motorcycle. Local police have already launched a dragnet operation to arrest the suspects.

Soneja testified in the government’s controversial broadband network project which would have caused the government $329 million.

Soneja is the chairman of the bids and awards committee which checked the proposals submitted for the allegedly anomalous deal.

The bidding for the project contract was bagged by Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment.

The government contract with ZTE was later assailed and eventually aborted amid allegations of bribery.

Soneja was among the government officials who testified in the Justice department’s investigation in April 2008 to shed light on what became known as the NBN-ZTE controversy.

Facing the panel of Justice investigators, Soneja belied claims of irregularities in the project, saying ZTE’s proposal passed the proper procedures.

The assault on the DoTC official came months after similar attacks on officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Last March 10, LTO-National Capital Region assistant director Camilo Guarin was on his way to work when his vehicle was fired upon in broad daylight by unknown gunmen. He was hurt in the incident but was released from a hospital a week later.

A day after the assault on Guarin, DPWH Undersecretary Ramon Aquino was also ambushed while on his way out of the DPWH building in Manila on March 11. He was treated at a nearby hospital but died from his injuries days later.

Meanwhile, DA Cagayan provincial director Gumersindo Lasam was attacked by unidentified attackers on April 14. He died hours after being taken to a hospital.

Administration critics claimed Lasam’s death was politically-motivated because he was one of the witnesses at the Senate hearing on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Days after the attack on Lasam, Malacañang dangled a P2-million reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects in the attack on the Agriculture and Public Works officials.

A month later, President Arroyo was prompted to earmark a P25-million fund that would be used in rewarding informants who would lead policemen in foiling similar assassinations on government officials.