Police to gunman’s cohort: Surrender, save your life

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz on Wednesday appealed to the companion of Raymond Longno, who served as the driver of the getaway vehicle to voluntarily surrender to the police because his life is also in danger.

De la Paz said there’s a possibility that Longno, 37, of Camia-Marapara Streets, Barangay Villamonte, was killed to completely silence him because he was the link to the possible mastermind in the killing of lawyer Johnny Chua.

A day after the killing of Chua, 63, owner of Eastview Hotel, a resident of Margarita Street, Capitol Ville Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, Longno was also shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on Malaspina Street, Barangay Villamonte last Sunday.

“We appeal to the companion of Longno, who served as the driver of motorcycle which was used as their getaway vehicle in the killing of Chua, to voluntarily surrender to the police in protective custody because the fate of Longno might also happen to him,” De la Paz said.

He said they believed the life of the companion of Longno is also at risk, claiming it’s very possible that the suspects who killed Longno are also guns-for-hire with the objective to completely silence him.

De la Paz added it’s also possible that the companions of Longno were the ones who killed him because of a misunderstanding in the sharing of money.

The city director earlier said they already have a lead to identify the possible companion of Longno in the killing of Chua.

De la Paz said they checked the cellular phone of Chua to determine if there would be an affirmation of the information that prior to the incident he received any death threats.

He said they are also providing security for the family of Chua and that they are also thankful for the cooperation of Chua’s family in solving the case.

On the other hand, De la Paz said the BCPO Intelligence Branch has been monitoring for a group of guns-for-hire in the city.

He said they are now closely monitoring the said group to determine if they are involved in the killing of Chua and Longno.

He added they have now the names and the necessary information of the locally based group that is involved in gun-for-hire related activities.

The city director said they are confident that the situation in the city is manageable and the incident in the killing of Chua is an isolated case.

He also assured the business community that the situation in Bacolod is under control and the city police are doing its best to maintain the peace and order and to solve the killings that happened in the city. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)