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LIFE WASTED. Leah Laylo holds the hand of her son, lawyer John Albert "Jal" Laylo, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before he passed away at about 10:33 a.m. Sunday (June 19, 2022; US time). The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head while Leah was injured by glass fragments after their vehicle was shot at while they were on their way to the airport the day before. (Photo courtesy of Leah Bustamante Laylo Facebook) MANILA - The family of lawyer John Albert "Jal" Laylo, a victim of a random shooting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over the weekend, will donate his organs. Althea Ann, Laylo's sister, said in a tweet Monday that they find peace in the thought that "somewhere in the world, a piece of him is alive and breathing". "He will do anything in his power to help. So as one final mission, he will be donating his organs to those who need it," Althea Ann's tweet read. Laylo's mother, Leah, said in a social media post that her son passed away at 10:33 a.m. Sunday (US time) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia where they were both taken after the shooting incident along 38th and Spruce Streets in University City, Philadelphia. They were onboard an Uber vehicle on their way to the airport to catch their flight to Chicago. Leah said the incident happened at 4:06 a.m., with Laylo struck with a bullet to the head while she sustained wounds from the car's broken glass. Based on initial police reports received by the Philippine Consulate in New York, the vehicle was shot at from behind by still unknown suspects, who then pulled over to the Uber driver's side and fired more rounds before fleeing. Laylo was first reported already dead by incoming Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin, but his family later corrected that he was on life support. The family found a semblance of hope when Laylo "squeezed my mom's hand three times and started mildly breathing on his own", according to a tweet by Althea Ann on Sunday night. "I thank God for the 35 years of his life. I'm beyond grateful for having a good, smart, generous, loving, caring son. These are the adjectives I can think of now," she posted on Facebook. Leah is thankful that she was with her son on his last days and made sure they had fun. "We traveled together and we are supposed to go home together! I will bring him home soon in a box! My son has a lot of dreams a lot of plans, hopes and everything! He's gone now. I can't explain the pain the heaviness I have in my heart. It took me hours to post this because still I can't believe this happened!" she added. Althea Ann said she is uncertain how to go on each day without her brother. "It's debilitating, frightening, to say the least, but as his frequent reminder goes, I will be strong. If not for me, for my kuya (elder brother). To my kuya, you are the love of my life and no one can take that away from you," she said on Facebook. Seeking justice In a statement, Elmer Cato, Consul General in New York, said the Philippine Consulate is coordinating with authorities and underscored the importance the Philippine government places on the case. Cato himself went to Philadelphia but Laylo was declared dead an hour before he arrived with leaders of the Filipino community He assured Leah that the DFA, Philippine Consulate General in New York, and Filipino communities will support them. "We will assist in the repatriation of her son's remains. We are in touch with police authorities and have reached out to others who may have any leads on the shooting," Cato said. Outgoing Senator Leila De Lima, who was Laylo's former boss, condemned the incident. "Walang puwang dapat ang ganitong karahasan sa mundo. Dapat mapanagot agad ang may sala at matigil na ang ganitong mga karumal-dumal na krimen (These violence should have no place in this world. The perpetrator should be immediately held liable and stop these heinous crimes)," De Lima tweeted. Laylo worked for de Lima's office and helped in drafting several bills, including Senate Bill 1433 or the Autism Care Act in 2017. John Albert "Jal" Laylo at Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., posted five days before a shooting incident inPhiladelphia on Saturday (June 18, 2022) that led to his death. (Instagram) Laylo's Facebook account indicated he was a graduate of Makati Science High School, University of the Philippines Diliman (Political Science), De La Salle University (Law), and Central European University in Budapest, Hungary (International Business Law). He passed the Bar in 2015. On June 10, Forbes.com released a report that 22 mass shootings have taken place in the US this year. A massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on May 24 was the deadliest so far with 19 children and two teachers killed. It happened 10 days after 10 were shot and killed at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. In 2020, violent gun deaths spiked by 35 percent and homicide numbers, which are shootings in 80 percent of cases, remained just as high in 2021 as they have been in the previous year, according to the report. Mass shootings of any kind also experienced a peak in 2021, with 77 recorded by Gun Violence Archive, Forbes wrote. (PNA) }
JUSTICE. John Albert "Jal" Laylo after obtaining his masters degree on International Business Law at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary in 2019. A bullet to the head, fired by a still unknown assailant, ended his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA over the weekend, according to official reports on Sunday (June 19, 2022). (Jal Laylo Facebook) MANILA - Filipino lawyer John Albert "Jal" Laylo and his mother were in an Uber vehicle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to catch their flight to Chicago when a still unknown assailant fired at them. One of six bullets struck Laylo, 36, in the head, causing his death and adding him to the list of shooting victims in the United States. His mother suffered slight injuries due to glass fragments. Fox 29 reported that at least seven shootings early Saturday morning (US time) in Philadelphia left five injured and two dead, including "a 36-year-old [who] was killed after being shot multiple times throughout his body, according to police. He was found on Lancaster Avenue around 1:30 a.m.". The incident was reported by incoming Department of Migrant Workers secretary Susan Ople to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. In his tweet on Sunday morning, Locsin said "Laylo [was] shot in the head" and has instructed embassy officials to bring home the body and Laylo's mother. "We are saddened by the death of a kababayan(fellow Filipino) in a random shooting incident in Philadelphia. We ask you to join us in praying for the eternal repose of his soul," New York Consul General Elmer Cato said in another tweet. "We are also in touch with police authorities in Philadelphia who informed us that the case is being investigated and that no arrests have been made so far. We call on authorities to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice," he added. Cato's deputy, Armand Talbo, went the hospital and met with Laylo's mother and other relatives. "I was able to talk to her and assured her of DFA and Philippine Consulate's support," Cato reported. Ople posted on Facebook that she was in shock after confirming the bad news. "I can't believe you are gone. My mind can't process this tragedy the viciousness of it all, how senseless this crime was. You live in our hearts. We love you, Jal Laylo," she posted. Laylo's Facebook account indicated he was a graduate of Makati Science High School, University of the Philippines Diliman (Political Science), De La Salle University (Law), and Central European University in Budapest, Hungary (International Business Law). He passed the Bar in 2015 and also worked at the Senate. In previous interviews, Cato always reminded Filipinos in the US to stay vigilant as hate crimes against Asians are getting more frequent. Several Filipinos in New York have been attacked for no reason, some pushed down the stairs of subway stations or hit with hard objects. Forbes.com reported on June 10 that 22 mass shootings already took place in the US this year. "Violent gun deaths spiked by 35% in 2020 and homicide numbers which are shootings in 80% of cases remained just as high in 202 as they had been in the previous year. Mass shootings of any kind also experienced a peak in 2021 77 were recorded by Gun Violence Archive while 2020 proved to be an about average year," Forbes wrote. (PNA) }
JUSTICE. John Albert "Jal" Laylo after obtaining his masters degree on International Business Law at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary in 2019. He is in critical condition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA after a random shooting over the weekend, according to official reports on Sunday (June 19, 2022). (Jal Laylo Facebook) (Ed's Note: Updating this story to correct the previous version that John Albert "Jal" Laylo has died, as reported by officials. They were later updated by the family that the lawyer is still alive but on life support.) MANILA - Filipino lawyer John Albert "Jal" Laylo and his mother were in an Uber vehicle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to catch their flight to Chicago when a still unknown assailant fired at them. One bullet struck Laylo, 36, in the head, and he is now on life support. His mother suffered slight injuries caused by glass fragments. Officals were erroneously informed on Sunday morning that Laylo has died but his sister, Althea, later corrected that her brother is still fighting for his life. "We were told he only had less than 5% chance of surviving. But now, miracles are starting to happen. He squeezed my mom's hand 3 times and started mildly breathing on his own. Thank you so much for the prayers and I am begging you all to please keep praying. He was undergoing a test to confirm if he is brain dead, but he responded. He will be having another test in an hour, please stand with us in prayer. Miracles are real," Althea tweeted at about 9:30 p.m. Incoming Department of Migrant Workers secretary Susan Ople, who first told Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. about the incident and posted Laylo's supposed death on Facebook, is asking for prayers "that he may survive the shooting incident in Philadelphia". "We call on [our] kababayan (fellow Filipinos) to pray hard with us so that Atty. John Laylo, who we have just been informed remains on life support after yesterday's random shooting incident in Philadelphia, would pull through," tweeted Elmer Cato, the Philippines' Consul General in New York. In his tweet on Sunday morning, Locsin said "Laylo [was] shot in the head" and has instructed embassy officials to bring home the body and Laylo's mother. Cato said they are "in touch with police authorities in Philadelphia who informed us that the case is being investigated and that no arrests have been made so far. We call on authorities to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice". Cato's deputy, Armand Talbo, went the hospital at once and met with Laylo's mother and other relatives. "I was able to talk to her and assured her of DFA and Philippine Consulate's support," Cato reported. Laylo's Facebook account indicated he was a graduate of Makati Science High School, University of the Philippines Diliman (Political Science), De La Salle University (Law), and Central European University in Budapest, Hungary (International Business Law). He passed the Bar in 2015 and also worked for Senator Leila de Lima. In previous interviews, Cato always reminded Filipinos in the US to stay vigilant as hate crimes against Asians are getting more frequent. Several Filipinos in New York have been attacked for no reason, some pushed down the stairs of subway stations or hit with hard objects. Forbes.com reported on June 10 that 22 mass shootings already took place in the US this year. "Violent gun deaths spiked by 35% in 2020 and homicide numbers which are shootings in 80% of cases remained just as high in 202 as they had been in the previous year. Mass shootings of any kind also experienced a peak in 2021 77 were recorded by Gun Violence Archive while 2020 proved to be an about average year," Forbes wrote. (PNA) }
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met yesterday with president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss new ways to deepen the bilateral US-Philippines alliance and highlighted the importance of fostering respect for human rights and rule of law.