Two personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) survived the assassination attempt by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Barangay Bolong Oeste, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo 7:40 a.m. yesterday.

Fifty four-year-old Engr. Eva Bedonia of Pavia, Iloilo, chief of 4th District Engineering Office’s Quality Assurance Section, and Administrative Aide 3 Rogelio Serilo, 38, of New Lucena, Iloilo were unharmed.

According to Sta. Barbara Police Station chief, Police Major Raymund Celoso, Bedonia and Serilo were on their way to their office onboard a white pickup service vehicle when the motorcycle-riding gunmen overtook them.

Celoso said that it was the back rider who fired at the victims several times. The suspects fled after the shooting.

“The driver was in his mind to drive their service vehicle [and] to stay away from the suspects, kay kung nag-stay pa sila basi e-finishing pa,” Celoso said.

Celoso added that they have yet to identify the gunmen who were wearing helmet and face mask.

Meanwhile, Sta. Barbara Police Station is eyeing work-related and personal grudge over land dispute as motives.

Bedonia revealed that she received a death threat last year, but it was not related to her work.

“We are focusing on two possible motives – personal grudge and in relation to her work – and I believe that Bedonia was the target because the damage was on the passenger side,” the police chief added.

The right side of the pickup, meanwhile, incurred five bullet holes while officers of the Sta. Barbara Police Station recovered five empty shells of caliber. 45 pistol from the crime scene./WDJ