Solve ABS-CBN director’s slay, Makati police told

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol ordered the Makati City police yesterday to quickly resolve last Thursday’s killing of an ABS-CBN director as the victim’s family are getting impatient over the slow-paced investigation of the case.

It’s been four days now since the killing of Luis "Luigi" Santiago, 26, outside the Venezia Bar located at Glorietta 2 but the Makati City police has yet to get his killer, identified only as Oliver Perez, believed to be a scion of a prominent family.

Querol clarified that he is not giving any deadline to Senior Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez, Makati City police chief, to solve Santiago’s killing.

"I’ve ordered Gutierrez to pursue the investigation and give justice to his death," said Querol.

The Metro police chief said Santiago and "Oliver" were in the same group that figured in an altercation with another group of customers at the Venezia Bar owned by Louie Ysmael Thursday night.

"Mukhang nagkainisan lang," said Querol, quoting the initial reports of Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia, director of the Southern Police District (SPD).

Garcia told The STAR yesterday that they are still scouring Metro Manila for Perez, who went into hiding right after the incident. He admitted that their investigation was hampered by the ongoing destabilization attempt against the Arroyo administration.

Garcia said the getaway vehicle, a Toyota Hi-Lux with license plate XTW-280, was turned over to the Makati City police by Estrella Angeles, the mother of its owner, Charito, who is presently in the United States.

Garcia threatened to charge Charito as an accomplice in Santiago’s slay if her family refuse to cooperate in the investigation.

The getaway vehicle was turned over to the custody of the SPD’s Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for thorough examination.

Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, director of the Crime Laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he has not yet received reports whether the SPD-SOCO found evidence in the getaway vehicle.

Belen said Santiago, director of the TV series "Nginiig," was shot with a caliber .9mm automatic pistol in the chest. The SOCO operatives also recovered several spent .9mm shells at the scene, Belen said.

Garcia said Santiago’s father and at least five witnesses have already submitted their statements regarding the incident. He said they have witnesses who claimed the artist-sketch of the suspect nearly resembled Perez, a regular customer of Venezia Bar.

When asked about the status of the case Garcia said, "We are still on a follow-up and case build-up." — Non Alquitran