Singaporean bar owner killed

Two men barged into the room of a Singaporean national, hogtied his lone bodyguard and stabbed him to death while he was sleeping beside his Filipina live-in partner in their house in Malate, Manila past midnight yesterday.

Sam Bathmanathan, 52, owner of Sam’s Bar and Restaurant and a furniture export firm, died of several stab wounds, according to Manila Police District’s homicide section head Chief Inspector Alberto Peco.

“We are ruling out robbery as one of the motives for the killing since no valuables were taken by the suspects. However, we are leaving no stone unturned in the investigation to unmask the killers,” Peco told The STAR.

According to Joanna Rose Sunga, 25, the victim’s live-in partner, she was fast asleep when she felt a pillow being pushed down on her face. She said she also heard the victim utter, “Sino kayo (Who are you)?” Then she felt someone struggle beside her. She said she was able to hold on to the victim and she felt something wet on his body, which prompted her to shout. The suspects then ran away. Sunga said she was shocked to see her boyfriend bathed in blood.

Nicomedes Sullano, 53, who has been serving as the victim’s bodyguard since 2005, said he was doing the rounds of the victim’s compound when two men accosted him with a knife and screwdriver. He said he was hogtied and his face covered with a towel. He said he was able to free himself when he heard Sunga’s shouts.

Senior Police Officer 3 Dave Tuazon said there was no sign of forced entry in the victim’s room. The locks were opened with its keys, indicating the suspects were able to secure the keys to the house, Tuazon said.

Sunga and Sullano said the suspects were clad in black and wearing bull caps. Peco said he will subject all members of the victim’s household to lie detector tests. – Nestor Etolle