Road-Test Ambush in Iloilo Leaves Businesswoman Dead, 2 Hurt

A deadly shooting in Dueñas, Iloilo turned a routine vehicle road test into a crime scene after gunmen opened fire on a stalled pickup along the national road. Authorities said 49-year-old businesswoman Marigold Jamelo was killed, while two other people were wounded in the attack.

Based on The Manila Times report, the victims were checking a Ford Ranger on March 23 when the vehicle overheated and had to stop near a repair shop in Barangay Poblacion A. Mechanic Wilbert Auditor had been working under the pickup, while another companion went to fetch water for the radiator, and Jamelo was waiting nearby when the shooting happened.

Witnesses told investigators that a red sedan approached the area before its occupants suddenly opened fire using what police believe were high-powered firearms. Investigators recovered 23 empty 5.56mm shells at the scene, a detail that points to one or more assault rifles being used in what police suspect was a targeted attack.

Auditor and a bystander from a nearby auto repair shop survived and were rushed to the hospital, where they were later reported to be in stable condition. Police said the attackers sped off toward Pototan right after the shooting, while investigators started backtracking operations and reviewing CCTV footage to identify everyone involved.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office said several angles are now being checked, including possible business-related motives and even a crime-of-passion angle. For now, wala pang final answer on who ordered the attack, but authorities have already identified persons of interest as they continue building the case.

Source: The Manila Times