SLAIN businessman John Michael Hermoso appeared to be the main target in the coffee shop attack that also killed a graduating student and wounded two others on F. Ramos St. in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City on Wednesday night, April 10.
Investigators are looking at two motives: business or personal.
Abellana Police Station Chief Eduard Sanchez, in a phone interview, said Hermoso’s family refused to be interviewed by investigators as they were preparing for his funeral.
Hermoso was the managing partner of The Good Cup Coffee Co.
Sanchez said they did not receive any reports of any threat on his life, but the latter might have approached other police units with his problems.
The other fatality was University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu student leader Kis Ramos, the cashier.
Employees Jerome Amada and Sherwin Rivera were also wounded in the attack.
Sanchez said the coffee shop has a security camera, but they have yet to obtain the footage on the night of the incident. They will also check the security camera of neighboring establishments, he said.
Initial investigation showed the gunman arrived on a motorcycle driven by another man past 11 p.m. Both wore full-face helmets.
The gunman disembarked and shot Rivera, who had gone out of the coffee shop first as he was heading home. After hearing the gunshot, Kis walked outside. The assassin shot her in the head. The gunman entered the coffee shop and shot Hermoso in the chest. He then opened fire at Amada.
Sanchez said Hermoso died instantly.
Kis was still breathing when she was rushed to the hospital, but she died before reaching the emergency room. Rivera was in critical condition.
The shooting spree did not last more than five seconds.
“Dali ra kaayo. Paspas kaayo nakapusil ang gunman (It was so fast. The gunman wasted no time),” Sanchez said.
The police official said the perpetrators could be professional hitmen. Six spent shells from a .45 pistol were recovered in the scene.
In a TV Patrol interview, Elvira Ramos, Kis’ mother, said what happened to her daughter was very sad. “Na angin lang siya (She was in the wrong place at the wrong time),” she said.
Elvira called on police to investigate the case and to give justice to her daughter’s death.
Lt. Col. Carlito Apilat, chief of the City Intelligence Bureau, said they already have two persons of interest, but they can’t divulge their names yet because the investigation is ongoing.
He said the two know how to use firearms and are capable of carrying out the crime.
“Kung naa kay kalagot sa usa, nganong giapil nila ang tulo (If Hermoso was their target, why did they also shoot the other three)?” Sanchez said.
He said they will sit down with Hermoso’s brother to ask him about the victim’s personal life.
Hermoso was set to leave for Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, April 11, to represent the country in the 2019 World Coffee Championships after he was declared champion in the Philippine Brewer’s Cup last month.
Last Thursday afternoon, students at UP Cebu held a candle-lighting activity to remember the 21-year-old Kis. (With MVG and AYB, HBL of SuperBalita Cebu, PJB)