German executive survives attack in Manila City

By Ronron
June 6, 2007

A German executive was hurt after he was shot by an unidentified gunman on Wednesday morning in Manila City, police said.

Supt. Rogelio Rosales, Jr., commander of Manila City Police Station 5, identified the victim as Michael Johannes Hienen, 62, Chairman of the Board of Profound Master, Inc., a company that sends Filipino seamen abroad.

Rosales said Hienen sustained two gunshot wounds – one on his side and another on his left arm – after shot five times at around 8:30 am at the corner of Escoda and San Marcelino Streets in Ermita, Manila City.

The German was alighting from his Hyundai Tucson van (plate number ZAW-340) after parking it when the gunman, wearing only a ball cap, approached him, Rosales said.

Hienen was about to report to work at that time.

The suspect escaped aboard a motorcyle driven by a suspected lookout.

Rosales said Hienen was brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for medical treatment.

Police could not immediately say what type of firearm was used to shoot Hienen because the suspect hid it inside a bag. Recovered slugs from the crime scene are also still undergoing laboratory examination.

Asked about the motive, Rosales said: “Definitely, this is not robbery because the suspects immediately left without taking anything (from the victim). They (perpetrators) could be disgruntled applicants.”

“That is one angle because of the nature of his work,” he added.

On May 31, a German national was briefly held by unidentified criminals in Pikit, North Cotabato, together with his Filipina wife and two other Filipinos, while on a business trip. They were released within the day with the help of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which holds a camp in the area./DMS