Various theories confuse family of slain MIAA official

The sister of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assistant general manager, who was killed in an ambush last Tuesday, said the different theories being reported in media on who could have possibly masterminded the murder only bring confusion.

Cherry Diaz, 48, said they are disappointed by the slow-paced investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Parañaque City police on the killing of her sister.

In a telephone interview, Diaz told The STAR it has been five days since her sister was ambushed along Moonwalk Subdivision by a lone gunman yet authorities have not yet shown concrete progress.

"We know the investigation is going on but we want to see results. Being her family, we want to pursue the case. Our comfort is that at least the authorities are doing something, they are moving. But we are confused by the stories that are coming out about their investigations. We might know some of her activities in the past which we think might have something to do with the case," Diaz said.

The NBI earlier floated the theory that Lilia’s death might be connected to a destabilization plot orchestrated by groups against the Arroyo government.

But according to Eugenio "Udong" Mahusay, the whistleblower on the controversial Jose Pidal account, the sketch of the gunman resembles a member of the Kuratong Baleleng group.

There is also a theory that the victim was silenced because she has knowledge of the Luwalhati Foundation of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. Others said she was killed because of another Foundation called Saber, allegedly connected to former President Joseph Estrada.

However, Superintendent Ronald Estilles and the Parañaque City police are concentrating on the angle that a disgruntled contractor might have ordered her death. They have invited for questioning Albert San Gabriel, general manager of the Olongapo Maintenance Services Inc. (OMSI).

Lilia was reportedly deeply bothered by the extortion case filed by San Gabriel against her and another fellow MIAA official, Rolando Hernandez ,because a Pasay court handed down a guilty verdict last July. She filed an appeals motion before a higher court and has not yet served the sentence. — Evelyn Macairan