A CHINESE-Filipino businessman died, while his wife was injured after they were shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants inside the compound of Redemptorist Church in Barangay 5, Bacolod City Tuesday night, February 19.
Killed was Alex Yao, 54. Wounded was his wife, Ma. Teresa.
Chief Inspector Ariel Pico, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the couple was on board a white Mercedes Benz. They were about to leave the parking lot at 8:30 p.m. after attending a prayer meeting when one of the assailants came closer and fired at him several times.
The gunman then fled with his motorcycle-driver companion who also served as lookout.
The window at the driver's seat have more than three bullet holes.
The male victim sustained three gunshot wounds on his body. According to initial reports, his wife was hit on her left hand.
Both were rushed to a private hospital, where the businessman died several minutes later.
Police recovered from the scene several fired bullets of .45 caliber.
Based on initial investigation, the two assailants, who were wearing black jackets and bonnets, were sighted at the parking lot of the church prior to the incident.
The couple usually attends a mass every Tuesday at the church.
"He (Alex) was really the target. His activities were probably monitored," Pico said.
The church's security guard, in an interview over Aksyon Radyo Bacolod, said he was at the back of the vicinity, closing the gate, when the incident happened.
He heard gunshots and was able to run but he failed to identify the perpetrators.
The police have yet to determine the motive.
When asked if the incident might be drug-related, Pico said "it is too premature to speculate anything since there is no reference yet."
Police cannot yet tell if the killing has something to do with Yao's business or more on personal matters.
Yao's wife even did not know of something that might trigger the incident to happen.
Police are trying to check the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage installed at the compound to help them in their investigation.
Meanwhile, a source close to the couple said Yao has lending and financing and currency exchange businesses. He was a co-owner of several other lending companies in Bacolod City and other parts of Negros Occidental.
Yao was also into cement business with distribution in Negros and other parts of the country.