AN official of the House of Representatives was shot dead by unidentified assailants in his house in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Monday.
The QCPD, in a statement, strongly condemned the killing of the 63-year-old male victim, whom it did not identify.
Speaker Martin Romualdez condemned the killing of the chief of the technical staff of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic death of Director Mauricio ‘Morrie’ Pulhin,” he said in a statement.
While it is too early to determine the motive behind the heinous crime, the Speaker called all law enforcement agencies “to conduct a thorough, impartial, and swift investigation.”
“All angles must be pursued — including, but not limited to, his professional affiliations — so that the truth may come out and justice may be served,” he emphasized.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and assure the public that justice will be served,” the QCPD said.
It said the incident occurred at 2:55 p.m. in Barangay Commonwealth during the birthday celebration of the victim’s daughter.
“Initial investigation revealed that two unidentified suspects entered the venue and shot the victim at close range,” the QCPD said.
“As they fled on a motorcycle, they also fired at the subdivision’s security guard before escaping,” it added.
The victim was brought to a hospital where he later died.
A special investigation team has been created “to focus on identifying and arresting the suspects.”
“Further, witnesses are being interviewed, and all leads are actively being pursued,” the QCPD said.
The Speaker said the long-serving Pulhin’s “professionalism, integrity and quiet commitment to his work earned him the respect of his peers and superiors alike.”
Romualdez extended his condolences to Pulhin’s family and vowed to “do everything in our power to ensure that those behind this crime — whether the perpetrators or the masterminds — are brought to justice.”
Outgoing Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the Ways and Means panel, also condemned the killing, saying the director’s murder “was shocking in its brazenness.”
