Hotel owner shot dead

A BUSINESSMAN on board his Isuzu Altera vehicle was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman at Corner GV-Burgos Streets, Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Saturday evening.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz identified the victim as lawyer Johnny Chua, 63, owner of Eastview Hotel, and resident of Margarita Street, Capitol Ville Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte.

De la Paz said Chua sustained a lone gunshot wound at his right armpit and was immediately rushed by his son Brent Andrew to the Riverside Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigation showed that around 6 p.m., the victim was on board his vehicle driven by his son. When they slowed down because of heavy traffic at the corner of GV-Burgos Streets, the lone gunman waiting at the corner fired at them four times.

The suspect who was wearing a ball cap and jacket fled to unknown direction after the incident, said De la Paz.

Police recovered from the crime scene two slugs of unidentified firearm and a pair of surgical gloves about 15 meters away.

De la Paz said the victim's son could not identify the suspect because, when he saw his father was hit, he immediately brought him to the hospital.

The city director immediately formed Special Investigation Task Group Chua, which he personally headed to focus on the investigation. His members include Special Operations Group, Regional Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigation Group, Crime Laboratory, BCPO Intelligence Unit, Investigation Unit and Station 4 commander.

De la Paz said their assessment shows that the incident was perpetrated by professionals, as the movements were very precise and possibly the victim was already being monitored. He believed that the suspect has some companions in perpetrating the crime.

He said one of the motives in the killing of the victim is personal grudge.

The city director said the incident is not MassKara-related because it is a personal grudge and he was killed outside the festival site.

He said they have already some information that might be helpful to identity the suspect.

Station 4 chief sacked

Meanwhile, Station 4 chief Senior Inspector Dianne Grace Aquitania was relieved from her post Sunday and was replaced by BCPO Admin head Police Chief Inspector Danilo Francisco following the businessman’s murder.

De la Paz said Aquitania was assigned in BCPO Admin while Francisco will take over her post as the new chief of Station 4.

The city director ordered Francisco to solve the crime as soon as possible and to coordinate with the barangay officials within his area of responsibility.

Francisco was the former chief of Station 4 during the time of former BCPO director Senior Superintendent Celestino Guara. He headed the station 4 for almost 2 years and eight months before he was assigned in BCPO Admin.

Francisco said he will hold a meeting today with his personnel to intensify their visibility patrol within their area of responsibility.
He said he will also deploy personnel in the identified crime-prone areas, especially in Barangays Villamonte and Estefania.