• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A gun-for-hire was tagged by the police as behind the death of a Filipino-Chinese businessman, who was gunned down across the Central Market in Bacolod City on Sept. 9.
Col. Joeresty Coronica, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said on Wednesday (Sept. 10) they are exerting their best effort to locate and arrest the gunman, who killed Romy Li, owner of Bacolod Republic Hardware Inc.
Coronica said the gunman was detained in 2023 for attempted homicide and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
While he was able to post bail, an arrest warrant was later issued against him for his failure to show up during court proceedings.
The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-Negros Occidental Chapter condemned the killing of Li, who used to serve as its president.
In a press briefing, Coronica said that a slug of a special bullet was recovered from the nape of the victim, following the conduct of autopsy examination.
Investigators are looking into business-related reason or personal grudge as among the motives.
Coronica asked for the cooperation of the victim’s family to give justice to the death of Li.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has maintained that BCPO remains in full control of the peace and order situation in Bacolod City.
“All the necessary security measures are being implemented to prevent any further untoward incidents,” PLt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO-NIR spokesperson, said. | GB
