Phl shooter 'shortchanged' gun syndicate?

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine practical shooting team member Michael Lontoc may have been killed because he allegedly “shortchanged” a gun smuggling syndicate of proceeds of high-powered firearms he sold, police said Friday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima said they are now investigating reports that Lontoc’s gun store in Quezon City was used to bring into the country high-powered firearms like AK-47 and Galil assault rifles.

“There are no guns on display on its counters and our informants say Lontoc is only selling AK-47 and Galil assault rifles,” he said, adding that they “suspect that the gun store is being used as a front in importing firearms at a lower cost.”

The NCRPO chief said they are now going after the gun smuggling syndicate in their effort to solve Lontoc’s killing.

Police investigators are also digging into the records of Lontoc’s gun store and seeking access to his cell phones and computers. As of Friday, Lontoc’s widow, Len, has not told police investigators about her late husband’s business dealings.

Purisima said Lontoc told friends he wanted to cut ties with the gun smuggling syndicate days before he was gunned down by four men after participating in a shooting tournament in Malabon last Sept. 25.