Insider angle eyed in ABB hit try

The Mandaluyong City police have been questioning three household employees of a businessman to determine whether they have a hand in the attempt by communist rebel hit men to kill him last month.

"We are presently questioning the three employees and the results of our investigation would be over in a week’s time," said Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief.

Velasquez admitted they have not unearthed as yet the motive behind the attempt of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army —Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) on the life of businessman Edwin Reyes.

Five RPA-ABB hit men were on their way to carry out their mission to liquidate Reyes last Nov. 17 but they killed a policeman instead, PO2 John-John Justo, whom they chanced upon on a passenger jeepney.

The five — Randy Puno, Victor Valdez, Jobert Dumlao, Chito Catbagan and Ramonit Moralidad — were arrested and charged in court.

Velasquez ordered an investigation on Reyes’ employees following the recovery from the suspects’ possession of a six-page surveillance report showing the movements of the businessman from Oct. 23 to Nov. 16.

The "insider" issue was raised after Reyes himself noticed an entry dated Nov. 15, which stated that he and a woman companion left their house at 9:10 a.m. and that their vehicle turned left towards Calbayog street and proceeded toward Libertad street.

Reyes explained in his meeting with Velasquez that their house in Mandaluyong was surrounded by high concrete walls, making it impossible for anybody to have a clear view inside.

"Reyes is worried that the hit men have an accomplice in the house so I had it looked into immediately," Velasquez told The STAR.

Results of the Mandaluyong police investigation showed that those who conducted the surveillance on Reyes were not the same people sent to liquidate him.

Reyes was at a loss as to the motive behind the attempt on his life. He said he does not remember having a disgruntled former employee in the past years.

Velasquez assigned security personnel to Reyes, who is now holed up at their family residence for fear for his life and that of his wife and children.

Elements of the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the intelligence unit of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) are trying to determine the RPA-ABB’s reason for trying to kill him.

But as of yesterday, Velasquez said the IG and the NCRPO have not furnished him yet of the result of their investigation.

The RPA-ABB admitted that the five arrested suspects were their hit men but they refused to say why they wanted Reyes dead.