A Japanese man was shot dead in front of his three children late Tuesday by robbers who commandeered the van he was traveling in soon after he arrived in Manila from Nagoya, police said Wednesday.

Police said Masashi Matsuura, 41, of Mie Prefecture, who is married to a Filipina and owns a pachineseo parlor in Nagoya, was shot to death around 11:40 p.m. in the presence of his two sons and a daughter as he was handcuffed inside the van in a Manila suburb.

The victim, who was a frequent visitor to the Philippines, was declared dead on arrival at a Manila hospital. He died from eight gunshot wounds in the chest, a hospital worker told Kyodo News.

A Philippine woman, who identified herself as Rachel David and is reportedly a niece of Matsuura, was also in the van with him when it was commandeered by four robbers clad in black.

David told a local radio station that she and Matsuura's 16-year-old daughter had picked him and his two sons, aged 10 and 13, up from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and were on their way to the town of Punta, Tarlac Province, to meet up with his Philippine wife when their van was hit by an old Ford Escort used by the robbers.

"When the armed men got into the van, they said they were cops checking our cargo. They told Matsuura to explain himself at the police main headquarters," she said, referring to the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Matsuura's 13-year-old son, Kenta, told Kyodo News that the robbers hit their van only a few minutes after they left the airport.

He said their driver tried to speed off but the van was caught in the traffic and the robbers caught up with them, ordered the driver to get out, handcuffed his father and commandeered the vehicle.

David said that while the robbers were driving, "they told us to shut up or they would hit us with their firearms."

"Matsuura did not say anything. He did not fight back. He was just handcuffed. The suspects shot him without provocation, then got his wallet and other belongings, including his passport," she said.
Police found 9-millimeter bullet casings at the site of the killing.

Many foreign tourists have fallen prey to robbery gangs victimizing passengers arriving from the international airport. Robbers usually introduce themselves as policemen or soldiers to get their victims to pull over, according to police. (Kyodo News)

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