Gun store exec next target of Phl shooter's killers - probers

MANILA, Philippines - A top executive of a gun store in Metro Manila is the next target of the gun-smuggling syndicate allegedly behind the murder of Philippine target shooting team member Michael Lontoc, police said yesterday.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said documents recovered from gun-for-hire Roland Baricuatro, 37, include a surveillance report on the official’s movements over several days.

“Among the documents... were pieces of papers showing that the target was being followed from his office in Makati City and his travel agency in Quezon City,” said an NCRPO official, who asked not to be identified.

The source said they are in the process of approaching the gun store official to inform him that the gun-smuggling syndicate is also after his head.

According to the NCRPO official, the gun store executive embezzled a large sum of money from the coffers of the gun-smuggling syndicate.

Baricuatro said a British man hired him as a part-time bodyguard and later to conduct surveillance on foreigners and locals who have “misdoings” with the syndicate.

Baricuatro admitted receiving P5,000 to P10,000 from his British employer for every surveillance job and P300 daily for personal expenses.

Police said Baricuatro started monitoring the gun store executive after Lontoc’s ambush in Malabon City in April 2011.

Baricuatro was about to submit the results of his surveillance report on the gun store executive to a certain “Jojo” at a gas station in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City last Feb. 3, when his employer ordered him to redeem a stolen motorcycle at the subdivision’s security office.

He was arrested by security guards for misrepresenting himself and his backpack yielded “questionable documents,” as well his surveillance tools such as a wig, a camera, dossiers and identification cards in different names, police said.