MANILA – Police have identified three suspects in the robbery and shooting of former Philippine Tourism Authority chief Nixon Kua and his brother, Alixon, in Calamba City in Laguna last Saturday.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo, Jr., on Monday named the suspects as certain John Rey Cortez, Darwin Samiano, and Noel Garcia.

Cerbo did not give details on the identities of the suspects pending results of manhunt operations and filing of appropriate charges.

He said the suspects were positively identified by unhurt members of the Kua family who witnessed the brutal incident on Saturday evening.

Kua, 47, sustained gunshot wounds in the face and body and remained under intensive care at the Calamba Medical Center.

His brother Alixon, 49, was shot in the left shoulder shortly before the suspects fled with P90,000 cash and an Apple Iphone around 8 p.m. Saturday.

Doctors later declared Alixon out of danger but Kua remained in critical condition at the hospital after he was shot in the nose with the bullet exiting his nape.

Earlier, Laguna Provincial Police Office head Chief Supt. James Melad said police had positive leads on the suspects.

"We have good leads, hopefully we will resolve this case soon and file appropriate charges against the suspects," he said.

Melad said that they had someone who could positively identify the brothers' attackers.

He said that the Laguna provincial government had allocated a P200,000 reward for individuals who could positively provide information leading to the suspects' location and arrest.

He also said they were still eyeing robbery as the motive for the attack as around P90,000 of the victims' cash and an I-Pad were taken by the suspects before making their getaway.

Melad said they were looking at the possibility that two to four suspects could have carried out the attack against the Kua brother.*PNA

back to top