By Rio N. Araja

Metro Manila Development Authority official Robert Esquivel wants protection of the Justice Department after his driver was gunned down in an ambush on Monday in Laguna that left his son injured.

The urgent request, he said, was made to Secretary Raul Gonzalez to extend security for him and his family following the strafing of his white Pajero (XSX-250) driven by Johnny Agbay, 34, with 14-year-old Mico on board, somewhere in San Vicente village, San Pedro.

As head of the sidewalk clearing operations, Esquivel has been criticized for the often violent removal of ambulant vendors, but otherwise bent on staying put.

?I am just doing my mandated duty,? he told Standard Today, noting that his son was in a stable condition.

Despite indications of a hit by the New People?s Army, he even prodded his sidewalk crew to continue with their job.

?We cannot just be cowed by such group,? said Esquivel, adding that vendors, slum dwellers and business operators should not pass judgment on him and would do well to spare his family.

?The public must realize that I am not anti-poor.?

Esquivel?s Pajero took heavy gunfire while Agbay was bringing Mico to San Agustin College.

Esquivel said the attackers dragged his son out of the vehicle, and left him lying in a pool of blood on the street.

?The gunmen stopped firing at my son when they saw it wasn?t me.?