THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has launched a manhunt operation against a man who shot dead an architect in Davao City on Saturday.
The victim was identified as John Riz Batuto Fortuna, 43, of Door B, RDL Aparment, Vinzon St., in Barangay 14-B, while the suspect was identified as Rosam Giger Jr., an engineer and a resident of Laverna Hills in Buhangin.
Murder charges were filed against Giger Monday afternoon, police said.
DCPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Milgrace Driz said the suspect reportedly called the Sta. Ana police two hours after the incident, expressing his willingness to surrender, but did not appear.
"Padayon na ang operation para madakpan ning suspect (The manhunt operation is now ongoing to arrest the suspect)," Driz said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao.
Driz said they are looking at personal grudge as motive behind the crime, as the victim owed the suspect some P2 million. The two used to be business partners.
The shooting incident took place in front of the victim's apartment around 8 a.m.
Driz urged the suspect to surrender to the police.
"Better na musurrender na lang yung suspect para hindi na lumaki pa ang kaso laban sa kanya," she said. "I'm sure nandito pa yun sa Davao City."
Based on initial investigation conducted by Sta. Ana police, the suspect immediately left the crime scene and boarded a tricycle heading to Cabaguio Avenue.
Police recovered eight fired cartridges believed to be from 9mm caliber. They were turned over to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office for ballistic examination.
The victim succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.