(UPDATED), 1st UPDATE. Controversial ex-Makati Mayor Junjun Binay’s secretary was shot by an unidentified gunman in Makati last night.
The victim, identified as 44-year-old Monaliza “Monette” Bernardo, was shot at around 8:13pm as she was about to enter her home in Barangay (Village) Olympia, Radyo Inquirer reported. She reportedly came from a campaign meeting, according to ABS-CBN News.
The assailant was riding a motorcycle with one other unidentified person and shot Bernardo from behind, GMA News reported. They were both wearing helmets that covered their faces.
The bullet hit her right hand and exited through her abdomen.
The two suspects then fled on their motorcycle headed towards South Ave. and turned left on Barasoain St. Found in the scene of the crime was an empty shell from a .45 pistol.
Witnesses said that the assailants were in the area as early as 8pm.
Bernardo was rushed to the Makati Medical Center by a witness identified as Reynaldo Bahoyo.
She underwent surgery and was first reported to have been in stable condition but eventually died of multiple organ failure at 11:12pm on Friday, March 22.
Junjun, a former mayor of Makati, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Saturday, March 23.
“The sadness and pain we feel today is indescribable; but it is matched by our resolve to secure justice for Monette and her loved ones,” he said.
He earlier said the attack could have been politically motivated, ABS-CBN News reported.
Junjun was mayor of Makati from 2010 and up until 2015 when he was dismissed by the Ombudsman for corruption allegations. However, this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeals in May last year.
He is now running for Makati Mayor once again, against his own sister Abigail Binay-Campos who won the seat in 2016. The two are in an ongoing sibling rivalry to head Makati City, their family’s stronghold and one of Metro Manila’s business districts.
Before Junjun and Abigail, their father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor of Makati for more than 20 non-consecutive years.
