The British Consultant of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) appeared Monday at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to strongly deny reports that he was coddling his stepson, who was implicated in last Wednesday’s shooting to death of a Malacanang official’s son over road altercation in Quezon City.

Accompanied by his lawyer, ADB official Stephen Pollard, answered some questions conducted by the NBI Special Action Unit under lawyer Angelito Magno to shed light on the matter.

Lawyer Alexis Media, counsel of Pollard, granted interview on behalf of his client and reiterated that the ADB official vehemently belied reports that he was coddling his stepson, Jason Ivler, or anyone involved in any crime.

Ivler was implicated in the shooting to death of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. of the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff.

The victim was a recruitment manager of the Peninsula Manila Hotel.

Medina said Pollard, an economist, expressed his condolences to the family of the victim. “There is no justice in that incident. Whoever is responsible should give himself up,” Medina quoted his client.

At the same time, Medina assured the NBI and authorities that his client would cooperate with authorities, saying that his client appeared at the NBI to answer some questions and assure his cooperation regarding the involvement of  Pollard’s stepson, Jason Ivler, on the death of Ebarle last Wednesday that occurred at the corner of Boni Serrano and Granada Streets in Quezon City.

Ebarle was shot dead after he and the man who was armed with caliber .45 pistol figured in a near collision late Wednesday night last week.

“My client is not hiding any suspect in any crime. He is an economist and he has no knowledge of this incident,” Medina stressed, saying that Pollard does not know the whereabouts of Jason and that he and his stepson have not communicated.

“They hardly see each other. But Pollard admitted to having a dinner with Ivler at 7 p.m. of Wednesday, hours before the incident occurred,” he said, reiterating that Pollard is not involved in any way in hiding the identity or person involved in any crime.

On Wednesday night, Ebarle’s Toyota Land Cruiser almost figured in a collision with the Honda CRV allegedly driven by Ivler. He was allegedly shot by the driver of the blue Honda CRV.

Police reports showed the driver of the Honda CRV blocked the path of Ebarle’s vehicle and after a traffic row, repeatedly shot the government official’s son at close range, then fled.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it will be offering reward money for any information that could lead to the immediate arrest of Ivler after a series of raids conducted in all his possible hiding places yielded negative.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said deliberation will be made in connection with the reward money that will be offered by the PNP to expedite the arrest of Mr. Jason Ivler,” said Espina in an interview. Part of the deliberation, he said, is the total amount that will be offered.

Aside from the raids that occurred in the past days in three areas, Espina said the PNP leadership has also tapped the services of all police units to arrest Ivler.

“The Chief PNP (Director General Jesus Verzosa) issued an all points bulletin employing all PNP territorial and national operational units on land, air or sea in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration for the immediate arrest of Ivler,” said Espina.