Key suspect in Ozamis ferryboat blast killed

ILIGAN CITY — The prime suspect in a ferryboat’s bombing in Ozamis City two years ago was killed, along with his one-year-old son, when at least four men, in what police believe was an act of rido (revenge), peppered his house here with bullets the other night.

Slain in the attack were Allan Saumay Tomarompong, 42, and his son Jabar. His live-in partner, Jocelyn Alivio, and daughter Monaida, 9, were wounded, according to Senior Inspector Leonie Roy Ga, police chief of Station 4 here.

Tomarompong was the key suspect in the bombing of M/V Our Lady of Mediatrix in February 2000, where more than 80 people were killed and scores were wounded.

He was arrested a few months after the blast at the Ozamis port. However, he, police said, jumped bail and became a gun-for-hire, involved in the murder of lawyer Olao Hassan and a kidnapping case in this city.

He sought refuge in Barangay Abuno and eluded arrest until he was killed the other night.