Cops now have name of brains in heiress murder

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Police Office has claimed to have already identified the possible mastermind in the shooting to death of a 15-year-old Japanese heiress and the wounding of her mother last week.

MCPO director Senior Superintendent Petronelli Balderin said the crime is now 65 percent solve but admitted that the gunman remains unidentified.

Balderin refused to give further information on the suspected mastermind but said inheritance and personal angles remain the possible motives being pursued by investigators.

Kim Espina was shot dead last Saturday along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City. Her mother, Prescilla Patenio, was also wounded during the incident.

The lone gunman used a mountain bike as getaway vehicle as seen on CCTV footage. The gunman was believed to have been backed up by people on board a red Nissan Patrol.

Based on the CCTV footage, the people inside the vehicle were seen communicating with the gunman.

Balderin said they have already the name of the owner. In fact, the owner allegedly called up to clear his name and promised to appear before the police headquarters last Wednesday but failed.

Homicide chief Zenaido Sanchez said the owner of the red Nissan Patrol is a member of a charismatic movement and is said to be a very close friend of a police official assigned at the Police Regional Office-7.

Sanchez said the owner of the vehicle claimed that he just went out to buy something when the gunman passed by.

The man denied his involvement in the crime and promised to cooperate. He was told to execute an affidavit to clear his name, but did not show up on the day he promised to appear before the police office. (FREEMAN)