Gunman in Lanot slay identified by new witness

A witness has claimed that a gun-for-hire, who is currently in police custody, is the gunman in the slaying of former Pasig City Rep. Henry Lanot in April last year.

Lanot’s eldest son, Henry "Ken" Lanot Jr., said the witness had initially been contracted by the gunman to pull off the job, but turned it down.

"The witness identified the gunman through his picture in newspaper clippings," said Lanot, adding that the prime suspect in his father’s slay was arrested recently for the killing of a provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) official.

Lanot coordinated yesterday with Chief Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), to forward the family witness’ testimony and at the same time ask for the speedy solution of his father’s murder.

"I’m appealing to witnesses to surface and help my family get justice for my father’s slaying," he said, noting that waiters and workers of the Jade Palace, where his father was shot last April 13, have disappeared for unknown reasons.

According to him, the witness, a parolee, approached his family in May last year to reveal what he knew about his father’s killing.

"Palagi daw silang nagkikita ng gunman sa NBP (National Bilibid Prisons) kung saan sila nagre-report bilang parolee. Ni-recruit day siya para patayin si daddy pero hindi niya kinagat dahil nagbagongbuhay na siya," Lanot said.

He said the witness surfaced because he was bothered by his conscience.

"Nang makita niya ang litrato ng gunman sa diyaryo, positibo niya itong itinuro," Lanot said.

Lanot said they would be holding a Mass at the Pasig cemetery at 3 p.m. on April 13, to commemorate the first anniversary of the former congressman’s death.

Lanot said politics remains the strongest motive being pursued by his family.

"Based on documents and evidence gathered by the police, the strongest motive is politics although we have to determine the group responsible," he said. — Non Alquitran