MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of Philadelphia expressed shock and sorrow over the killing of a Filipino lawyer who was shot within the metropolis over the weekend and is providing a $20,000 reward for data that may result in the arrest of the shooter, a senior Philippine diplomat mentioned Wednesday.
John Albert Laylo and his mom have been heading to the airport to board a flight early Saturday when somebody in a close-by automobile fired a number of rounds into their Uber at a purple gentle close to the College of Pennsylvania, police mentioned. Laylo was hit at the back of the pinnacle and died Sunday in a hospital.
“I’m sorry. It’s horrible,” Philippine Consul Basic Elmer Cato quoted Mayor Jim Kenney as telling him in a gathering at Philadelphia Metropolis Corridor in an apology for Laylo’s household and the Philippines. The mayor advised him a $20,000 reward was being provided for any data that may result in the arrest of the gunman, he mentioned.
The sufferer’s mom, Leah Laylo, “advised me to convey to the mayor her anguish, her anger and her demand for justice” and Kenney gave his assurance “that all the things can be completed to deliver whoever is accountable for the demise of her son to justice,” Cato advised The Related Press.
“I additionally conveyed the nice significance the Philippine authorities locations on this case and the hope that authorities would do all the things they’ll to resolve the case,” he mentioned.
Laylo, 35, had final labored for a personal firm in Manila, Cato mentioned. He had additionally served as a legislative staffer for opposition Sen. Leila de Lima from 2016 to 2018 then left to take up graduate research. De Lima earlier expressed hope a suspect would instantly be held to account “for the brutal and mindless act.”
In Cato’s assembly with Kenney, who was with two police officers concerned within the investigation of the taking pictures, “we have been advised it’s largely possible a case of mistaken id,” Cato mentioned with out elaborating. He added police have been analyzing video footage that confirmed some autos, together with a black Cadillac, close to the automobile carrying Laylo and his mom shortly earlier than or across the time of the assault.
Kenney expressed his concern over the proliferation of weapons that has led to lethal shootings within the U.S., Cato mentioned.
In tweets earlier this week, Kenney mentioned he was appalled by the “mindless” taking pictures. “Each act of gun violence is an unspeakable tragedy,” he wrote, whereas additionally calling for anybody with details about the taking pictures to contact police.
Philadelphia, together with different massive U.S. cities, is experiencing a surge in gun violence. In a single notable episode June 4, a gun melee within the South Road leisure district, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the taking pictures that killed Laylo, left three individuals lifeless and several other others injured.
Laylo’s mom, who was barely injured by glass fragments through the taking pictures, posted to Fb that she and her son had been on trip collectively. She shared snapshots of her and her son touring websites in New York, Washington and Philadelphia.
The sufferer’s stays could also be flown again to the Philippines on Tuesday, Cato mentioned.
