Businessman shot dead in Pasig

Four men, believed to be hired killers, shot dead the owner of the Pearl Plaza as the businessman and his daughter were entering the building located at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City yesterday.

Leonardo Umali, 62, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body after being shot at close range as he alighted from his car and walked toward the commerical building on Pearl Drive in Barangay San Antonio at about 11:30 a.m.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said Umali died while being operated on at the Medical Center in Pasig City.

"Titingnan natin kung sinu-sino ang kanyang kaaway," said Querol, as he urged witnesses to surface and help police solve the case.

He directed Chief Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), to work round-the clock to identify and arrest the suspects, who casually walked away from the scene after shooting Umali.

Reports reaching Querol showed that Umali, his daughter Tintin and Pearl Plaza employee Erning Lanton, had just stepped out of a Mercedes Benz (LLL 801) in front of the Pearl Plaza when two of the suspects, took out handguns and shot the businessman at close range.

Police said the gunmen’s two companions acted as lookouts.

Lanton, an electrician, was also shot as he tried to help the fallen Umali. He was also taken to the Medical City for treatment.

After making sure that Umali was dead, the suspects casually walked away, police said.

The daughter, who rushed her father to the hospital, told Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring, Pasig City police officer-in-charge (OIC), that the gunmen were in their early 20s.

One of them was wearing a black shirt and maong pants.

"She only saw the two gunmen and was not aware that there were two other suspects acting as lookouts," Abaring said.

He said his interview with the daughter was cut short when doctors announced Umali had died, an hour after the shooting incident.

"She then joined her relatives in the room and they were all crying so I decided to postpone my interview with them," he said.

Abaring, however, posted a policeman to secure Lanton as he, along with Umali’s daughter, is considered a vital witness to the shooting.

The Pasig City police chief claimed that the family has been cooperating fully in the investigation.

Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, director of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, said Umali sustained three gunshot wounds — one at the back of the head, and two in the upper back.

"All the wounds were fatal," the crime lab chief said.

At the crime scene, investigators recovered five empty shells and two deformed slugs from a caliber .45 automatic pistol.

Querol admitted they are having a hard time convincing other witnesses to surface and give their statements to police investigators.

"The manner in which the violence was inflicted on Umali has apparently instilled fear on those who saw the shooting," he said.

Abaring said the suspects had breakfast at a restaurant located on the second floor of the Pearl Plaza building.

"Parang hinihintay nila talaga ang pagdating ng biktima," he said.

The suspects were tipped off by somebody from outside the establishment because they left their table in haste a few minutes before Umali’s vehicle arrived, Abaring said.