A BUSINESSMAN/contractor was shot to death by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants at Bonifacio Ext., Barangay Zone 4, Silay City, Wednesday morning, June 12.

Police Major Rollie Pondevilla, chief of police of Silay City PNP, identified the victim as Jose Lindy Chan, 64 years old and a resident of the city.

Chan suffered from four gunshot wounds with three at the back portion of his shoulder and a fatal one on the left armpit that caused his sudden death. He was immediately brought to the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in the city but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending doctor.

Based on the initial investigation conducted by PNP Silay, it came out that Chan has been receiving death threats prior to his assassination Wednesday. In fact, per review of police records, Chan survived an ambush last year in Barangay E. Lopez also in the city.

The police official said that they will conduct further investigation into the killing. He said that they have recovered nine empty shells of .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene and also recovered a helmet, bonnet and jacket few meters away from the crime scene which are believed to have been left by the suspects after they changed clothes to hide their identities while fleeing away from the crime scene.

Chan, a former official of the PNP and the former Maritime Command, was talking to his friend when the gunmen suddenly arrived and shot him.

“We were at the middle of our conversation when one of the suspects on board the motorcycle approached us and shot him without any word”, Chan’s friend who asked not to be named said.

Chan has been controversial since his days with Maricom until he became businessman and contractor prior to his death. He was also controversial after he filed several cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against some local officials including former officials of Silay City. He was also a subject of news items in the quarry operation in E.B. Magalona.

Pondevilla confirmed that they have recovered the personal mobile phone of Chan and that they will review the recordings of the closed-circuit television camera at the house of Chan’s friend where the incident happened as it may also lead to the possible identification of the suspects.

Chan’s body lies in state at Manapla Funeral Homes as of Wednesday.