By Sammy Martin Reporter  and Ira Karen Apanay Senior reporter

THE Philippine National Police  (PNP) has mobilized all its units to hunt down Jason Ivler, the primary suspect in the shooting of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. of the Office of the Executive Secretary.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa directed the National Capital Region Police Office, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the Aviation Security Group and the Highway Patrol Group to join the manhunt for the suspect described as “armed and dangerous.”

Ivler is believed to be the lone suspect in the fatal shooting of Ebarle Jr., 27, during a traffic altercation at the corner of Boni Serrano and Granada streets in Quezon City shortly before midnight on Thursday.

Chief Insp. Benjamin Elen-zano, deputy head of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), cited published media reports of a traffic accident involving Ivler in August 2004 that led to the death of then Presidential Adviser on Resettlement Nestor Ponce Jr.

According to reports, Ivler was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser with diplomatic plate 23370 at the corner of C-5 and Ortigas flyover in Pasig City when it accidentally hit Ponce’s Isuzu Trooper. The collision killed Ponce instantly and injured his wife, Evangeline.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Western Mindanao Regional Office and the Bureau of Immigration nabbed Ivler as he was about to escape to Sandakan, Malaysia, on board the MV Lady Maryjoy 2.

Ivler’s mother, Marlene, the younger sister of singer Freddie Aguilar, is married to Stephen Pollard, a consultant at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the registered owner of the Honda CRV with diplomatic license plates 20903.

Pollard appeared before the QCPD-CIDU Friday afternoon and said he was not the one driving the SUV when Ebarle was killed.

In his statement given to the police, Pollard said he seldom uses the Honda CRV and that the vehicle was “parked at my home most of the week.”

“I do not remember where the keys to this Honda vehicle are kept. I never used, drove or boarded this Honda vehicle at any time on Wednesday, 18 November 2009,” Pollard said, noting that he used a Toyota Grandia van that day.

He claimed that during the period when he arrived home at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday until the next morning, he never went out to check if the CRV was still parked at its designated area.

Elenzano expressed disappointment over Pollard’s statement. “We’re frustrated. We denounce his being uncooperative,” he said, noting that their legal officers will determine whether obstruction of justice could apply to Pollard.

Pollard has another stepson, identified as Colby Ivler, but QCPD-CIDU head Supt. Lino Banaag said they had information that the SUV was with Jason on the night of the killing.

Ebarle suffered three gunshot wounds from a caliber .45 handgun and died before paramedics could administer first aid.

Records from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Division show there are no firearms registered under Jason Ivler’s name.

Verzosa expressed confidence a major breakthrough in the investigation is forthcoming. He said Ivler’s movement is being closely monitored through the NCRPO’s network of CCTV cameras installed in strategic locations around Metro Manila.