Ivler in stable condition after surgery

he prime suspect in the killing of a Palace official’s son has begun to normalize after undergoing surgery in a Quezon City hospital, a radio report said.

Quoting attending physicians at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, the report said Jason Ivler's medical condition has stabilized after undergoing an operation to treat the bullet wounds he sustained after a gunfight with authorities.

Ivler — the suspect in the slaying of Renato Ebarle Jr. on Nov. 18 last year — was wounded after trading shots with National Bureau of Investigation agents who were serving an arrest warrant this morning at his home in Blue Ridge A Subdivision, Quezon City.

Doctors have to remove Ivler’s spleen and part of his intestine that were hit by bullets, the report added.

NBI agents have handcuffed Ivler, who also lost 600 cc of blood, to his hospital bed inside the intensive care unit right after the surgery. According to reports, this was to ensure that the suspect won’t commit suicide while in confinement. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Probers urged to look into Ivler's connections

A Palace official whose son was gunned down in the shooting spree on Nov. 18 last year in Quezon City wants a more in-depth probe on the suspect's connections in other government agencies.

In a radio interview, Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. — father of the victim Renato Jr. — urged investigators to find out how Jason Ivler's mother Marlene Aguilar, his stepfather Stephen Pollard, and his uncle managed to help the suspect to successfully evade authorities for several months.

Ebarle works for the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staf.

"Aside from the main case, I think investigators should also look into the involvement of the mother and stepfather and the rest of the family," he said.

Ebarle claimed that Ivler has an uncle in the Philippine National Police who had helped his nephew evade arrest for his previous criminal case.

"I think this colonel should be investigated for giving aid and comfort to a fugitive," the Cabinet official said.

Ivler has already jumped bail for a previous criminal case involving the death of another motorist.

After months of hiding, he was finally nabbed this morning in his residence in Quezon City after a gunfight with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation. The firefight left Ivler in critical condition after suffering several gunshot wounds.

Though his family was glad to see that Ivler has been finally arrested, Ebarle said they have yet to see justice given to his son.

"It’s not yet over. We will still wait for the final resolution on the case," he added. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)