Cops identify suspect in Ermita condo slay

Police released yesterday the name and photo of the prime suspect in the slaying of a Chinese-Filipino businesswoman in Ermita, Manila.

Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Section head Chief Inspector Alejandro Yangquiling Jr. called on the public to immediately call police in case they sight suspect Emilio Ong, former husband of 33-year-old Josephine Ong, who was shot dead inside her condominium unit in Ermita last Sunday night.

Yangquiling admitted the suspect has proven to be elusive, saying Ong "has a lot of friends in high places."

The suspect was identified by his driver, Jimmy Adducul, as the one who shot his former wife in a fit of jealousy after finding out that she was seeing another man following their separation.

Yangquiling and his men arrested Adducul in a follow-up operation in Navotas last Tuesday.

A silver Nissan Sentra (XRP-521), which was reportedly used by Ong in going to the victim’s condominium unit in Ermita last Sunday night, has been impounded by police.

Police also raided a condominium unit in Makati City on the same day Adducul was arrested, but failed to find the suspect at his lair.

According to Yangquiling, the suspect is the same man recently charged by the Traffic Management Group (TMG) with perjury after reporting that his Mercedes Benz had been taken by armed men in Manila.

It later turned out that the vehicle was pawned by Ong to a casino financier.

He is also the suspect in the slaying of a casino financier last year in another condominium unit in Ermita, Yangquiling added.

"The suspect has managed to elude arrest due to his strong connections with court personnel and some ranking police officials," Yangquiling said.

Ong, also known as Wang Yu, has two sets of Filipino and Chinese passports, Yangquiling said.

Police said they have requested the Bureau of Immigration to place the suspect under its watchlist to prevent him from leaving the country.

Investigators also recovered the cellular phone of the victim. The phone contained death threat messages sent by Emilio.

"This will serve as evidence that Emilio had ill motives against his wife," Yangquiling said.