1 dead as lawyer fights off ambush, runs down attackers

MANILA, Philippines — One of three suspects who ambushed a lawyer in Quezon City early Tuesday morning, February 13, died when the intended victim fought back and later chased his attackers, running them down as they tried to flee.

Lawyer Arjel Joseph Cabatbat was driving his SUV from Greenhills and had turned right from EDSA to East Aveue when the gunmen, riding two motorcycles, drove up next to him and opened fire.

However, Cabatbata managed to fire back and, when his attackers drove away, chased them and ran down their motorcycles.

The gunmen riding pillion, who suffered the most serious injuries, were rushed to the nearby East Avenue Medical Center where one of them was declared dead on arrival. Authorities are hunting down the third gunman, who managed to escape.

A Philippine National Police identification card in the name of Police Officer 1 Mark Boquela Areyas was recovered from the dead suspect but Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said they still need to check its validity.

The ID card recovered from the slain suspect in the ambush of a lawyer in Quezon City. (Hannibal Talete, News5).

Investigators are looking at the possibility the attack on Cabatbat was related to his work because the lawyer has reportedly received several death threat.