Warrant out for 3 suspects in Phl shooter's slay

MANILA, Philippines - A Malabon City judge issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of three men who allegedly shot dead Philippine international shooting team member Michael Lontoc eight months ago.

Judge Zaldy Docena of the Malabon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 170, directed “any officer of the law” to arrest Marvin “Aben” Tresvalles and Renante “Renan” Egioma, both residents of Sitio 6 in Barangay Catmon; and Jimmy “Toto” Pianiar, a resident of Barangay Tonsuya. All three have been charged with murder for the Sept. 25, 2011 attack on Lontoc.

The victim, one of the shooters who were supposed to represent the country in an international shooting competition in Greece, was on his way home to Quezon City after participating in a local shootfest hosted by the Malabon Practical Shooting Association Inc. in Barangay Maysilo when at least four gunmen shot at his Toyota Hilux (ZCN-522) while he was crossing the M.H. del Pilar bridge.

The gunmen then boarded a passing passenger jeepney bound for Barangay Catmon. Lontoc sustained gunshot wounds in the head and body and died at the Manila Central University Hospital while undergoing treatment.

A task force, formed by Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Antonio Decano, gathered witness testimonies and evidence that pointed to Tresvalles, Egioma and Pianiar as three of the four men who killed Lontoc.

The suspects are reportedly hired guns based in the middle of a shantytown in Barangay Catmon and are allegedly connected to a local politician.

The task force alleged that Lontoc was killed when he “messed up” with an international gun smuggling syndicate, to which he belonged. Lontoc’s kin denied he was a gun smuggler but claimed he was only “used” by the syndicate and was killed when he was about to cooperate with the police.