Malacañang on Saturday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “leave no stone unturned” in solving the murder of Renato Ebarle, Jr., who was killed in a traffic altercation in Quezon City last Wednesday.

“We condemn in the strongest possible words the senseless murder of Mr. Ebarle Jr.,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said over radio, adding that the father of the victim, Presidential Chief of Staff Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Sr., is a very close friend. “We have ordered the PNP to leave no stone unturned in solving the crime,” Remonde said. “We are holding the PNP responsible na hindi na makawala itong suspect na ito.”

A nationwide manhunt has been ordered by the PNP against the suspect. Remonde also appealed to the suspect as well as those who know of the suspect’s whereabouts to peacefully surrender him to the authorities. “Para mabigyan natin ng hustisya itong senseless na pagpatay sa kaisa- isang anak na lalaki ng ating kasama at kaibigan na si Undersectary Ebarle,” Remonde said.

Ebarle, Jr., 27, succumbed to several gunshot wounds in a traffic altercation in Quezon City reportedly involving a relative of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) executive.

Meanwhile, police were disappointed with the statement issued by Stephen Pollard, economist at the ADB and his lawyer regarding the alleged involvement of the former's son in the killing of the son of an official of the Office of the President.

Earlier, Pollard issued a statement that he will cooperate with authorities regarding the matter.

Pollard and his lawyer Alex Medina, visited the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIU) and so far Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano was "frustrated" with the ADB official and his legal counsel's answers.

The ADB diplomat was summoned by authorities, after they learned that the vehicle a Honda CRV, which the suspect in the killing of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. used is registered under Pollard's name.

During the investigation Jason Ivler, a son of Pollard's wife Marlene Aguilar with a previous marriage, was implicated in the shooting. Aguilar is said to be the sister of famous folk artist Freddie Aguilar. When asked by authorities who was driving the Honda CRV when Ebarle Jr. was killed, Pollard's legal counsel Medina merely said that his client was not using the vehicle when the Malacañang official's son was killed.

Pollard, a principal economist of the ADB Pacific Department, supposedly enjoys immunity from prosecution because of his status, but authorities said that this immunity does not extend to his family.

The ADB economist also reportedly told authorities that he never used the vehicle last November 18, as he has been using a Toyota Grandia. He added that he arrived home at 6:30 p.m. last Wednesday did not check whether the Honda CRV was at its designated parking space. He also said he did not know where the keys to the vehicle were. (With a report by Rizal Obanil)