‘Umale’s killers waited at Pearl Plaza 2 days earlier’

The four suspects in the March 16 ambush-slay of businessman Leonardo Umale waited for him two days earlier at the Pearl Plaza in Pasig City, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring, Pasig City police officer-in-charge, said the four gunmen were noticed by a waiter at a restaurant on the second floor of the eight- storey building two days before Umale was killed.

"Kumain sila doon noong Martes at mukhang may hinihintay. Pero hindi naman pinansin ng waiter dahil customer nila at hindi niya alam na mga killer pala at ang target ay si Umale," Abaring said.

On that day, Umale did not drop by his building, police said. The four "customers" left after finsihing their meal.

The same waiter said that on March 16, the four suspects arrived early and took the table near the veranda where they had a good view of the ground floor.

The suspects ordered sausages, corned beef and fried rice for breakfast.

"Magkasama silang apat sa table at tumitingin sa ibaba ng building," Abaring said.

When Umale’s Mercedes Benz arrived in front of the building at 11:30 a.m., the four suspects stood up and with drawn guns, rushed down the stairs and went after the businessman.

The waiter did not run after the suspects, who did not pay for their meal.

"He saw them brandishing handguns," Abaring said.

Umale had just emerged from his bullet-proof car and was walking toward the elevator when he saw the suspects rushing toward him.

Police said Umale was a sharpshooter, but it was not known whether he was carrying a gun at the time.

Police said Umale ran for safety, but two of the suspects opened fire hitting him in the back. After Umale fell, one of the gunmen approached him and shot him in the back of the head.

Building electrician, Ernesto Lanton, rushed to the aid of Umale, but one of the suspects opened fire at him. Lanton died later at a hospital.

Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, director of the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police, said the five spent shells recovered at the crime scene were fired from three different caliber .45 automatic pistols.

The waiter said one of the gunmen had a scar from a bullet wound on his right arm.

"Panay inom kasi ng gunman ng tubig kaya’t napuna ng waiter ang peklat sa kanang kamay," Abaring said. "They studied Umale’s routine at matagal nilang inaabangan."

Abaring submitted his findings yesterday to Chief Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD) and concurrent Task Force Umale commander.