Manila cops mum on Go slay probe

The slaying of former Manila councilor Chika Go could have been business-related, sources at the Western Police District said.

Though probers did not elaborate, they said business, at the moment, proves to be the strongest motive for Go’s fatal shooting last Saturday in Manila’s Binondo district.

Earlier, the Western Police District, on orders of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, formed "Task Force Chika" to crack the case.

Members of the task force, headed by Superintendent Rafael Corpuz, WPD deputy district director for operations, have kept mum regarding the progress of their investigation citing a gag order from WPD director, Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong.

Go, 47, who served as a Manila Third District councilor from 1992-1995, was driving to his condominium at the Regente Towers along Reina Regente Street aboard his light brown Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number WGU-768 when he was caught in heavy traffic at about 1:25 p.m.

As the van slowed to a stop past the Reina Regente bridge, a lone assailant walked to the van and opened fire at Go with a caliber .45 pistol. After the shooting, the gunman escaped from the scene aboard a motorcycle, said Bulaong.

Police said Go, who was seated at the back of his driver, Abel Polantos, 30, had just visited his mother Su Kin Go at the Chinese General Hospital where she is confined. Go was taken to the Metropolitan Hospital where he died about an hour later.

It was the second ambush on Go. Last May 21, Go was also waylaid in Sampaloc, Manila. Fortunately, he was not hurt, his driver was killed and his daughter wounded seriously.

As these developed, probers declined to say if Wilfredo Keng, alias Willy Keng, a Chinese businessman, is one of their primary suspects.

According to Corazon Desu Go, wife of the slain former councilor, Keng had allegedly threatened to kill her husband and the entire family as early as three years ago. She also believes that it was also Keng who was behind her husband’s first ambush.

"At the moment, we have no basis to say whether or not he (Keng) is involved or not. That is what she (Corazon) is saying. But of course, we still have to dig deeper," said a homicide investigator.

The STAR tried to reach Keng for comment in his Regina Garden II condominium unit but he was not available. In an interview in December 1999, he vehemently denied charges by Go that he was involved in illegal activities. He said he was only a small businessman doing legitimate business in the country. – Mike Frialde, Junep Ocampo and Cecille Suerte-Felipe