Son of slain bizman identifies suspect

THE suspect, who allegedly killed the owner of Eastview Hotel last Saturday but was himself eventually killed last Sunday by two unidentified gunmen, was identified Monday by the victim’s son.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz said the family of lawyer Johnny Chua, Monday visited BCPO and when the picture of Raymond Longno, 37, of Camia-Marapara Streets, Barangay Villamonte, was presented to Brent Andrew Chua, son of the victim, he positively identified him as the one who shot his father last Saturday at Corner-GV Burgos Streets, Barangay 19.

Chua, 63, owner of Eastview Hotel, and resident of Margarita Street, Capitol Ville Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, was killed Saturday evening while he was aboard his Isuzu Altera vehicle driven by his son, who immediately rushed him to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival at the Riverside Medical Center (RMC).

A day after the killing of the businessman, Longno was also shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at Malaspina Street, Barangay Villamonte at 5:10 p.m. Sunday.

Investigation showed while Longno was walking along Malaspina Street, an unidentified vehicle hit him. Two persons wearing bonnets then alighted from the vehicle and shot him several times.

Longno sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was rushed to the Doctor’s Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician.

Police recovered from the crime scene .45 caliber shells and five deformed slugs of unknown firearm.

De la Paz said Longno has pending charges in BCPO for robbery hold-up, illegal possession of firearms, and frustrated murder.

He said Longno was also identified by witnesses as the suspect in the recent robbery hold-ups of M. Lhuiller Pawnshop and the Sea Oil gas station at Araneta Street.

De la Paz cited that, based on the records of Longno, he already killed several persons and he was also the suspect in the failed assassination attempt on Barangay Banago chieftain Noel Cordova in 2008, and was also involved in the killing of the businessman in Talisay City.

He said Longno also managed to post his bail for his various cases amounting to P680,000, even though he is unemployed.

De la Paz ordered Station 4 commander Danilo Francisco to conduct further investigation to identify the suspects in the killing of Longno.

He said they believed that the objective of the suspects is to totally neutralize Longno.

De la Paz said there were also several witnesses who positively identified Longno as the one who shot Chua. Witnesses reported that, after the incident, they saw Longno crossing the street to the motorcycle where his companion was waiting but, when Chua’s vehicle left the area, they saw the gunman return to the crime scene and pick up the slugs of the firearms used in the killing of the victim.

De la Paz said they will conduct further investigation why the suspect turned back in the crime scene to take the slugs of the firearms.

He said one of the motives in the killing of the victim is personal or business related, adding they have a lead on the companion of Longno who was the driver of the motorcycle.

He added they don’t have evidence yet to link the two killings to one group, as the crimes could be perpetrated by different groups. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)