Customs collector survives car ambush in Talisay City
A Customs official survived an ambush on Wednesday night while riding home to Talisay City.
Two men on a motorbike fired at his vehicle, injuring the driver, past 7:30 p.m. on Rabaya Street, Nonoc in barangay Tabanok.
Gerardo Ocampo, 38, the customs port collector of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, was on board his Toyota Hilux driven by Proto Bulias and a 30-year-old staffer Pablito Geraldez.
The vehicle, which has tinted windows, was passing by the ABC lumber store when two assailants stopped at the driver’s side of the vehicle and opened fire, said Chief Insp. Germano Mallari, Talisay police chief.
The Customs official and his staffer were unscathed.
The driver, who had been hired two months ago, was hit in the shoulder.
Ocampo didn’t immediately speak with the police after the ambush.
“When we sent an investigator, he said he was still in shock. On Thursday morning, he talked with us and said he could not see any motive for the attack. He said he had no conflict with anyone at work or in his personal life,” said the police chief.
Police said the victims ‘ vehicle was 100 meters away from Ocampo’s house when the attack occured.
Ocampo was seated in front beside the driver.
Police were able to recover five empty .45 caliber shells.
According to the customs official, the assailants were not wearing any crash helmet or cap to hide their faces.
Ocampo said he was trying to duck to cover himself and noticed the perpetrators headed to the South Road Properties (SRP).
Mallari said the Talisay police will conduct further investigation.
“This is not the first time that someone from the customs bureau got waylaid. Someone was even shot so we can’t discount the possibility that the violence was work related,” he said.
Ocampo has been working with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for 24 years.
He was assigned for 22 years in the main office in Cebu City and was transferred to the airport two years ago.
In November last year, a live grenade was found at the house of retired customs collector Paul Alcazaren in Main Court Subdivision in barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.
“It is also possible the attack is work related. All angles in that case will be considered,” said Port of Cebu District Collector Arnulfo Marcos.
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