Raps filed vs suspect in shooter's slay

MANILA, Philippines - Police yesterday filed murder charges against a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate, who was tagged in the killing of Philippine practical shooting member Michael Lontoc.

Reynante Egioma, 30, alias Reynan, a resident of Sitio 6, Barangay Catmon in Malabon was charged with murder before the city prosecutor's office for the killing of Ronnie Evalarosa on Nov. 2 last year.

“It took us almost one year to file the charges because nobody came forward to testify against him,” said Chief Inspector Bong Sta. Teresa, head of the Malabon police station’s investigation division.

Witnesses said Egioma shot Evalarosa in the head with a .45-caliber pistol.

The slugs recovered in the killing of Evalarosa matched those found at the scene where Lontoc was killed last Sept. 25.

Sta. Teresa said they are also preparing murder charges against Egioma for the ambush-slay of Lontoc.

“We have statements of witnesses and other evidence on hand. What we need now is the statements of Lontoc’s mother or wife for us to file a separate murder charges against Egioma,” said Sta. Teresa.

A member of the Special Investigation Task Group Lontoc (SITG Lontoc) claimed the victim’s mother and his wife, Len, have promised to cooperate in the probe of the incident.

A police official, meanwhile, said they are having a hard time persuading at least three witnesses to cooperate in the investigation.

“At least three eyewitnesses who previously expressed willingness to assist us in our investigation of the murder of Michael Lontoc are now evading us, claiming that they are afraid for their safety and that of their family,” the official, who requested anonymity said.

He said that one of the witnesses was able to describe to investigators the appearance of one of the lookouts in Lontoc’s murder. – With Pete Laude