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Columnist Nixon Kua in critical condition after robbery incident

Update: Just got this text from NFA Administrator Lito Banayo (July 23, 2012, 11:39 pm.) Our friend Nixon has gone back to the Divine Creator.

Let’s pray for Nixon Kua, former head of the Philippine Tourism Authority, is now in a criticaI condition at the Calamba Medical center after he was shot at close range Saturday night in front of his brother’s home inside the exclusive Ayala Greenfields in Calamba, Laguna.

According National Food Authority Administrator Lito Banayo, Nixon’s close friend and predecessor at PTA, doctors are giving Nixon, who is at the Intensive Care Unit a 50-50 chance of surviving.

News reports, quoting Laguna police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, said that amid a downpour, four unidentified armed men shot and seriously wounded Kua and seized from his daughter, Sue Anne, a bag containing P90,000 in cash intended for wages of people working in their house. Robbers also got Sue Anne’s IPhone.

Gerry de Belen, information officer of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and also a close friend of Nixon, said Nixon was with his brother, known to them as Milo (Police identified the brother as Allyxon), his wife and two children, one of them Sue Anne, 21 years old.

Police reports said Nixon sustained gunshot wounds in the face and different parts of his body while his brother also sustained wounds in different parts of his body.

De Belen said the police have arrested a suspect. Nixon’s wife is supposed to identify the guy but she is still in a state of shock.

De Belen said their priority concern now is Nixon and Milo’s survival. There will be time to make the perpetrators pay for their crime.

Nixon was formerly reporter of the Philippine Star. He and I used to cover the Presidential Commission on Good Government at the start of the administration of President Corazon Aquino in 1986.

He also helped out in Joseph Estrada’s media bureau during the latter’s first presidential campaign in 1998. He was appointed head of the PTA, the position now held by Mark Lapid.

Nixon is associated with Sen. Lacson.

As a member of the anti-Gloria Arroyo organization of Former Senior Government Officials, Nixon helped media in documents pertaining to the fertilizer scam, the overpriced NBN/ZTE deal and the anomalous public works contracts questioned by the World Bank.

Nixon now writes for Pilipino Star Ngayon, a tabloid publication of The Philippine Star.

What is scary about this assault on the Kua brothers is, it happened inside the posh Ayala Greenfields, where security is supposed to be tight. Non-residents are required to leave their driver’s license upon entering the subdivision which is marketed as “a magical neighborhood that provides residents with a true sanctuary to come home to everyday.”

The incident once again highlights the deteriorating peace and order situation in the country and the need for a review of the way the government is handling the problem.

Criminals are becoming more brazen especially the riding- in- tandem operations. I shuddered watching the news report last month of a woman shot and killed when she resisted the motorcycle-riding robbers grab of her handbag.

It’s scary.

But amid increasing incidents that undermine one’s trust on fellow men, there are always kind souls.

Last month, I was standing along the street in front of Rizal Park (I’m not sure if it’s Ma. Orosa st) waiting for a taxi, almost noon. A taxi stopped but when I told him I was going to Makati, the driver said he couldn’t take me because he was on his way to their garage, which was out of the way to Makati.
But he asked me to get in his cab saying he’ll drop me off along T.M. Kalaw which was the next street, where I would have better chance of getting a taxi.

At first I was hesitant but he seemed kind so I got in. He said, “You should not be standing there. There are a lot of snatchers there. Didn’t you notice you were the only one there?”

He dropped me off in front of the Manila Doctors Hospital with the advice, “Be careful. This area is a snatchers’ nest.”

An act of kindness from a stranger.

Published inMalayaPeace and Order

14 Comments

  1. Jojo Jojo

    Talagang wala nang peace & order ang Bansa natin. Hindi ka na ligtas kahit saan ka pumunta. Two days ago ang balita dahil papalapit daw ang election baka nag-iipon na ng pondo ang kakandidato. Kakahiya ang Bansang Pinas. Talagang It’s more fun in the Philippines.

  2. Jojo Jojo

    Mahina yata ang memory ng mga police officials ng Pinas. Hindi daw mangyayari sa Pinas ang Batman shooting spree sa Aurora, Colorado. Nakalimutan niya ang barilan sa loob ng sinehan dahil sa movie ni Da King way back 70’s. Parang computer, always delete.

  3. Ikaw nga naman Ellen, walang kadala-dala. Isn’t that the same area where some woman grabbed your earrings from behind?

    For someone in your job, I suggest you get yourself a TASER. It might save you from random thieves. Even from those who plan to deliberately harm you. Might spell difference between life and death considering the risks of being a hardhitting journalist.

    Better yet, get yourself a license to carry a snubnose.

  4. Jojo Jojo

    #4,,,,,,snubnose,,,,,pagtatawanan lang yan ng mga hoodlums. ang dapat kay Mam Ellen ay AK-47. Like the one owned by the adviser of Pnoy. Tignan ko lang kung may magtangka kay Mam Ellen. Hindi ba nang kainitan ng imvistigation sa mga Generals ay may death threat si Mam Ellen. So qualified siya to apply for a license of AK for her own protection.

  5. Oo nga Tongue. In the Rizal park area. The earring-grabbing incident happened along Taft Avenue. So I thought the area on Orosa street was safer because it’s a tourist area.

    I thought that police would really try to make that place safe for tourists. Opposite pala. Tourists attract thieves.

  6. vic vic

    Ellen, A Taser is now a Standard issue for cops as their non-lethal weapon to temporarilly incapacitate a suspect instead of hitting him with a baton..it is an electrical shock dispense by projectile attached to wires that is proppelled by gas, (same as in the paint gun) and will penetrate the body thru clothing and will suspend the brain message to the body to act…the effect is temporary but if the suspect try to do something stupid, another dose can be dispense by just pressing the trigger and too many doses will kill the target…it is painless though…Pepper Spray is another good weapon for snatcher and other criminal to temporarilly disable them and get away or get some help..

    @ 5 jojo, snubby is serious weapon if it carries a 125 grains .357 and one can shoot it at close range..i shoot one, a ruger sp-101 and it blows fire like a Dragon…with its 2 inch barrel.

  7. Jojo, for someone who uses public transport, an AK47/AK74 is not an option. I doubt if it will be effective defense if the element of stealth is removed. The only fast rules: LETHAL and LITTLE.

    Vic, I once owned a .38 Colt Banker’s Special snubby. Very handy and easy to hide. Then a PNP officer from a camp in QC sold me a box of 147 grain .38+P+ hi-velocity which he says was a standard issue in the 80s in the FBI but he advised to use it sparingly. The guard in my parking area asked to buy a full round for his “paltik” but I said I could be arrested for illegal trade so I just gave him 2 pcs for free. The next day, I learned the guard’s revolver was totally obliterated by a single shot. His hands were bandaged for a week. Never used the ammo again.

  8. vic vic

    Tongue, my SP-101 is now a prohibited weapon (anyway, personal carry is not allowed in Canada)and anything of .25 cal and .32 and handgun of less than 4.10 inches in barrel length are now prohibited weapons, but all those that have the firearms before the law can still possess them legally and is “grandfathered”, it can take any load in .357 but it prefers the light l25 JHP high velocity considered to be the number 1 man-stopper. it is a little bit on the heavy side though…Taurus is making lot of nice small carry handguns with firepower and power and easily concealed.
    and you know a .22 rim fire loaded with cci stinger or any high velocity cartridge in a trained hand is a very effective in a small .22 handgun, self loading or revolver.

    but even the Glock and other brand name manufacturers are making small handguns for concealed carry…we can not find these class over here since l995 when the prohibition took effect except for those who were lucky to have them..I meant legally…For Loads, I do my own, just buy the components, it is cheaper and can have fun doing my own recipe…

  9. olan olan

    Criminals are so brazen simply because they knew that our justice system is so slow and most of the time does not work, some police members are even participants of anything criminal, and most specially, they knew that most of our leaders/politicians are so brazen also in their thieving and corrupting activities….they can see this weaknes that’s why they are not afraid to commit crimes or get paid to commit a crime… I just hope Pnoy will not tire in his pursuit to make a real change! I just hope our Judges and the judiciary as a whole will honor their promise to serve expediently….I heard Nixon Cua passes away! lets pray for him and his family.

  10. Hanggat hindi gumagawa ng batas na ang parusa ay malupit talaga ay hindi mawawala ang krimen. Lalo pang lalala dahil mahirap ang magkaroon ng pera sa ngayon. Lalo pa kaya sa susunod na mga taon. Kung halimbawa may batas na ang magnanakaw ay puputulan ng kamay at ipapakita pa ang pagputol sa video at ipalabas sa mga tv ay wala ng mag iinteres na magnakaw. Kung halimbawa may batas na ang papatay ng tao ay papatayin din sa pamamagitan ng pagpugot ng ulo kapag nahuli ay wala na sigurong papatay pa. Wala ng kaso kaso kasi tatagal pa dahil ang mga abogado ay magaling sa taktika lalo kung may malaking halaga na nakapain sa kanya. Tingnan mo na lang sa Saudi ang mga tao doon ay mga behave talaga dahil malupit ang parusa. Wala ng awa awa ngayon na panahon. Gumawa ng batas para sa mga nagkakasala na malupit ang parusa.

  11. Vic, My fave small guy is the Walther PPK 9mm which I plan to keep for good. Made famous by Hitler and James Bond.

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