A year later, no brains yet behind Ting slay

CEBU, Philippines - By next month it will be a year since the ambush that killed hotelier Manuel Ting. His family and friends hope the police will identify the mastermind before then.

The four sons of Ting, owner of Cebu Parklane International Hotel, told The FREEMAN yesterday that they, especially their father’s relatives and friends, are not contented even with the imprisonment of alleged gunman Ruel Velez.

“Naa’y nagstorya namo na-solve na kuno ni kay nadakpan na ang gunman, but ang mga friends ni daddy, di man gud sila satisfied ani nga tubag. Ang importante, ang mastermind. Malipay pa mi if ang mastermind ang nadakpan, dili ang gunman,” said one of the sons, who requested not to be named.

Ting’s sons said it seemed that their father’s case is already being forgotten.

“Ginalihok daw gihapon, mao na’y latest update from the police. Ang amo lang is how far na man ang ilang nakuha. Hatagan gyud ni og action. Kinahanglan na sad mapakgang ‘ning mastermind kay basin mangamong og mga inosenteng tawo,” the son said.

Velez, who was arrested and charged in court, denied his involvement in the killing of Manuel.

The siblings believe that the mastermind is in their family circle and the motive is envy.

They also believe that the mastermind is in cahoots with Larry Ting, the alleged mastermind in the attempt of the life of Ting’s younger brother, Nicolas.

Manuel, who was supposed to turn 73 last Sunday, was shot dead in an ambush in Barangay Tisa past 6 p.m. on June 22 last year, less than 24 hours after Nicolas was ambushed in Barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City. Nicolas survived the attack.

“Especially gyud no pagka-construct sa Parklane, ilang panan-aw gyud, suya gyud sila ani. Wa lang sila kabalo para nila nasuya sila ani para sad sa amoa pirte ning dakoang problema among giatubang during construction until nag-operate mi… so even though sa kalisod, daghang problema ginaatubang namo, daghan ming mga problema gi-survive kay ang swerte gud di man gud na nimo mapugngan,” Manuel’s son said.

After learning the ambush on his brother, Manuel, who had a quarrel with him, seemed worried, but would not show his real emotions. He did not anticipate that the same thing would happen to him few hours later, his son said.

Task Force Ting head and Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe yesterday said that they will soon announce the mastermind’s identity.

“One of the challenges man gud in divulging the mastermind is how to connect him to the crime scene, how you implicate him. We are looking for evidence that we can use in court, not just mere pronouncement,” Buenafe said.

Buenafe assured the family that they are doing all they can to solve the case.

On Manuel’s birthday last Sunday, the siblings gathered and supported the “justice run” initiated by Manuel’s friends and classmates and joined in by about 1,800 runners. Manuel himself was among the pioneering runners of Cebu.

“Even kami, kabalo mi naa na sa among hunahuna kung kinsa ang mastermind, but di man gyud mahimo if wa’y concrete evidence. So one of the reasons for the justice run is mura’g wake-up call sa kaso,” they said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)