Gunman's cohort in bizman's slay identified

THE companion of Raymond Longno, alias "Small Boy," who served as driver of the motorcycle used in the killing of a hotel owner has been identified by Special Investigation Task Group Chua.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz denied Tuesday, however, in giving further details regarding the identification of Longno’s companion when they killed lawyer Johnny Chua.

He said a follow-up investigation is still ongoing.

He said, though, that Longno’s companion served as the driver of the motorcycle used as the getaway vehicle.

Chua, 63, owner of Eastview Hotel, and resident of Margarita Street, Capitol Ville Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, was shot while he was onboard his Isuzu Altera at Corner-GV Burgos Streets, Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Saturday evening.

A day after the killing of the businessman, Longno, 37, of Camia Marapara Streets, Barangay Villamonte, was also shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at Malaspina Street, Barangay Villamonte around 5:10 p.m. Sunday.

Longno was positively identified by the son of Chua, Brent Andrew, as one of the suspects through the picture presented to him by police after Longno was killed.

Brent Andrew was the one driving their Isuzu vehicle when his father was shot several times by the suspect. Chua was declared dead on arrival at the Riverside Medical Center.

De la Paz said there were also several witnesses that positively identified Longno as the one who shot the businessman at Corner-GV Burgos Streets, Barangay 19.

The witnesses said that after the incident, they saw the gunman crossing the street going to the motorcycle where his companion was waiting.

When Chua's vehicle left the area, they said they saw the gunman returning to the crime scene and taking the slugs of the firearms used in the killing.

The city director said their investigation revealed that two weeks before the killing of Chua, the wheels of his black vehicle were stabbed with an icepick as it was parked in front of Eastview Hotel. His family did not mind the incident at that time.

De la Paz said that based on the autopsy report, Chua sustained a lone gunshot wound in the right portion of his armpit using a .9mm caliber pistol.

He said the slugs recovered from the body of the victim were submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory to determine the possible owner of the firearms used in the killing of the victim.

"If the firearm was licensed, there's a big possibility that we can locate the owner of the firearm," he said.

He said the slugs will be a big help in solving the crime in the killing of the victim.

De la Paz also said that Longno will also be considered as gun-for-hire, because based on his records, he already killed several persons in Negros Occidental.

He said in 1999, Longno killed Ramon Aguiling of Barangay 2, Bacolod City, also a suspected rob suspect. In 2007, he killed Filomino Paragot, a businessman in Talisay City, and Remo Javelona, the husband of former councilor of Talisay City, in 2009.

In 2008, he was also the suspect in the failed assassination attempt of Barangay Banago chieftain Noel Cordova, and in 2009, he also assassinated Benedicto Gochangco in Bacolod.

Longno was also the suspect in robbery hold-ups of M. Lhuillier Pawnshop and the Sea Oil gas station at Araneta Street where he was also positively identified by the personnel of said business establishments.

De la Paz said they are still conducting further investigation to identify the suspects in the killing of Longno. They will also conduct investigation on the suspects allegedly using a vehicle with markings PNP 111.

He said the PNP will not tolerate the extrajudicial killings because they observe the rule of law.

The PNP, he added, will not engage in such activities, saying "if there's a suspect, he should be arrested and will be prosecuted."