Cops dig deeper into Parsons case

Police are gathering evidence against a politician’s relative, tagged as one of the three suspects in the latest attempt on the life of singer-actor Sonny Parsons in Marikina City last Wednesday.

The name of a certain "Ome" cropped up after elements of the Rizal police and the Eastern Police District (EPD) began tracing the possible owner of a red Nissan Sentra that was used as getaway vehicle in the attack on Parsons.

Superintendent Danilo Florentino, intelligence officer of the EPD and Superintendent Carlito Dimaano, Rizal PNP provincial director, are jointly gathering evidence against Ome before hauling him to court.

Sources claimed Ome is related to officials in the local government of Rizal.

He is also an alleged a leader of a big-time crime syndicate involved in various crimes, including drug peddling.

The drug angle is also being eyed in Parsons’ slay attempt, police officials told The Star.

In an interview, Parsons, a former Marikina councilor, claimed he has been hearing the name of Ome since the first attempt on his life last July 18. "Sa sunod-sunod na banta na natatanggap, makailang ulit ko nang naririnig ‘yang Ome na ‘yan," said Parsons. "Sana mahuli na siya sa lalong madaling panahon."

Parsons said the latest attempt on his life was definitely related to the foiled robbery at his house last year. The former singer managed to kill two of the robbers while another, Joram Gaceta, was wounded.

Gaceta, however, jumped bail on the robbery and attempted homicide charges filed against him by the Marikina City police.

According to Parsons, the getaway car used by the suspects was the same vehicle he saw roaming in their subdivision at SSS Village, Barangay Concepcion Dos during the time he was receiving death threats.

He said the latest attack was likely the handiwork of the same group, which is determined to get even with him.

Parsons was working at home at the corner of Bronze and Rainbow Streets in SSS Village, when he saw three men casing his house at 2:45 a.m. last Wednesday.

When he confronted the suspects, one of them pulled out a gun and fired at him but missed. The actor said he fired back hitting one of the suspects four times in the chest.

Police found no traces of blood in the area. Parsons said the suspect he hit must have been wearing a protective vest. Parsons claimed the suspects fled on board a red Sentra toward Rizal province.