Manhunt on for businessman’s ‘killer son’

MANILA, Philippines - The Las Piñas police has launched a manhunt for a man who confessed to killing his businessman father last year after a Parañaque court recently issued a warrant for his arrest, an official said yesterday.

In a related development, friends of slain businessman Antonino Antonio are offering P300,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest of his son, Nelson Antonio, 44, who has been charged with parricide before a Parañaque court.

In a statement sent to The STAR, the elder Antonio’s friends said those who have information on Nelson’s whereabouts may contact cell phone numbers 0947-3010426 or 0915-5212567.

Judge Rolando How of the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court Branch 257 ordered the younger Antonio arrested without bail, Las Piñas police chief Senior Superintendent Adolfo Samala told The STAR.

The younger Antonio shot his father at least six times using a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after a heated argument in their house on 118 Concha Cruz Drive in BF Executive Homes on Sept. 11, 2013, Samala said.

Antonio later surrendered to the Parañaque police Sub-station 8, which turned him over to the Las Piñas police, he said.

The argument started when the victim accused his son of masterminding a robbery in the family compound some days prior to the shooting, he added.

During the investigation, the younger Antonio confessed to the killing, Samala said, adding that the suspect then showed Las Piñas prosecutors bills showing that the house where the shooting occurred is in Parañaque, not Las Piñas.

“The compound where the crime was committed is located along the boundary of Las Pinas and Parañaque cities,” Samala said.

On Sept. 27, 2013, the prosecutors ordered the parricide charge against him dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction, he said.

Samala said Antonio went into hiding while the charge was filed with the Parañaque prosecutor’s office, which elevated the case to the local court.