Victim once arrested with P225 million shabu: High-value target killed

CEBU, Philippines — A Filipino-Chinese businessman included on the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – 7 was shot dead in Cordova, Cebu yesterday morning.

The businessman, identified as Gary Ong Go, 57, succumbed to gunshot wounds to his chest and head.

The shooting happened at past 8 a.m. right in front of Go’s live-in partner, Sierralyn Borromeo, in front of Borromeo’s house in Barangay Poblacion.

Cordova Police Station chief Janus Giangan told The Freeman that Go was about to ride his vehicle after bringing Borromeo home when three men in masks arrived on board a van with plate number BOO982 and fired shots at him.

Police recovered an empty shell of a 9mm pistol and seven empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene.

Giangan said illegal drugs might be a motive in the killing.

In 2015, Go was put behind bars after he and Borromeo were arrested with at least 45 kilos of shabu worth P225 million during an entrapment operation in Quezon City.

“Naa ni siya’y nakuha siguro nga dako nga item og shabu niya wala kabayad,” Giangan told The FREEMAN.

The police chief said they kept an eye on Go who they considered a high-value target.

“Based sa ato previous data, nagduwa pud siya diri sa Cordova mao nga gi-surveillance siya but lisod kay dili man gyod siya permanente sa Cordova,” Giangan said.

The Freeman received information that Go is a relative of controversial businessman Peter Lim but Giangan said they would need to verify the report.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte tagged Lim as a drug lord, something that Lim has denied vehemently.

Giangan said they have invited Borromeo for questioning.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director, Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena, has ordered an investigation into the shooting.

“Identify the suspects and motive of the incident. Profile also the victim and determine his activities prior to the incident,” Abrugena said.

Commenting on Go’s and Borromeo’s 2015 arrest, Abrugena said the court may have found enough grounds to grant them bail.

“Nakapag-post sila ng bail. Siguro, sa pag-eksamin sa korte, prosecution ay may nakita na puwede po silang makapag-post ng bail,” Abrugena said.

He said CPPO will coordinate with the Quezon City police to trace Go’s activities.

“May mga indicators kasi na still involved pa din siya in his previous activities,” Abrugena said.

CPPO will also coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to validate the plate number used by the van the suspects used. — JMO (FREEMAN)