Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Child was target, not trader: cops By Stephen Capillas
"THE child of Chinese-Filipino businessman Samson Jao was the target and not the trader himself," City Police Director Antonio Montalba reiterated in a radio interview, adding they will present more facts on the case in a press conference at City Hall grounds sometime soon.
Regional Philippine National Police (PNP)-Northern Mindanao Director Teodorico Capuyan said they are leaving it up to the city police and other law enforcement agencies to attend to the resolution of the case.
"The city police has jurisdiction on the case and the PNP-Northern Mindanao office along with the military and other law enforcement agencies are ready to assist if the city police so requires our help," Capuyan told local media in Tuesday afternoon's PNP Press Corps-Northern Mindanao forum at Camp Alagar, Lapasan this city.
Capuyan said investigation into the Jao murder case has entailed the help of some military units. Jao's remains were found in a remote hinterland barangay in the outskirts of Iligan City last September.
During Tuesday's interview, Montalba said they are keeping an eye on Supralyn Milanang, a resident of 12th street, Barangay Nazareth and suspected mastermind in Jao's murder.
Two other suspects, a certain Zaldy Mohorhombsalik and one Rajah Anzari, both natives of Marawi City, were named as accomplices in Jao's murder and are now detained at the Marawi City Police Office.
Montalba also said Milanang invited Jao for a private conversation on the night the latter played mahjong with some friends and "that there was no sign that Jao refused or even resisted" when he entered Milanang's vehicle.
"We believe the suspect may have stabbed Jao while they were riding the vehicle and his remains were dumped somewhere in Iligan City," Montalba said.
The city police director said aside from Milanang and her two accomplices, no other parties were involved. The victim is said to have engaged in many affairs despite being married and having a family.
Previous reports stated that Milanang and Jao had a child whom the latter raised as his own. Milanang is said to have planned to kidnap their child in order to extract support from him.
Milanang, however, failed and police said Milanang managed to arrange a meeting with Jao for this purpose. Stolen from Jao were several ATM cards, one cell phone and an undetermined amount of cash.
Murder charges have been filed against Milanang, who is said to remain at large.
Relatives and neighbors of Milanang denied her involvement in the case, saying it was not in her nature to commit murder.
