HK offers reward for Pinay fugitive

The Hong Kong government is offering a HK$400,000 (P2 million) bounty for information leading to the arrest of a Filipino domestic helper wanted for the killing of an American couple there in April.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sources said Hong Kong authorities want Magno Manalili prosecuted for robbing and killing American citizens Ng Ka-mong and his wife Sun King-man between April 12 and 13.

The victims worked as professors in a Hong Kong university and were respected in academic circles.

Prior to the killings, Manalili allegedly tried to borrow money from the couple, but they refused, as Manalili already owed the couple a sizable sum of money.

Anger also festered within Manalili towards the couple, who indicated that they would not renew Manalili’s employment contract, an NBI agent said.

"(Manalili’s) eventual termination from the job apparently triggered the killing," the agent said.

The victims’ bodies were discovered by their friend, who had paid the slain couple a visit on April 14. The couple was last seen alive on April 12.

After the killings that took place in the couple’s home in the Shatin district, Manalili flew to the Philippines in an apparent attempt to evade arrest.

Sources said NBI agents were sent to Pampanga following reports that the suspect sought refuge with relatives there, but the agents returned empty-handed.

Manalili may have had a chance to escape while the NBI was coordinating with local police to effect his arrest, sources said.

"Manalili apparently got wind of the information, about our presence in the area, prompting him to escape," one of the operatives said.

With the reward offered by the Hong Kong government, the NBI expressed optimism that Manalili will be arrested soon.