Tac Padilla: My nephew not involved in shooter's murder

MANILA, Philippines - Shooting champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla clarified yesterday that his nephew, Harold, is not involved in gun dealing and has nothing to do with the ambush-slay of Philippine practical shooting team member Michael Lontoc.

Padilla said Harold, also a shooter, sells cooking oil and scrap materials.

“He may got himself into trouble in the past. But this time he’s going straight and working his butt out to support his family. He has no stomach for getting involved in this type of case,” said Padilla in an interview.

He pointed out that Harold – a son of his brother, Danny – is not in hiding and is willing to make himself available for investigation “once the police invites him for questioning.”

Padilla admitted, however, that Lontoc and Harold are “close friends.”

“In fact, it was Harold who was among those first to arrive in the ambush site. Somebody called him up because they knew that he and Lontoc are close to each other,” Padilla said.

Harold is taking extra security measures against “persons who got Lontoc killed,” Padilla said. He refused to elaborate.

Harold, according to his uncle, is a “small-time businessman” whose wife tends a stall in a public market to supplement their family’s income.

“Sometimes, I have to buy his scrap so he could earn extra money to support his family,” he said.

Padilla sought The STAR yesterday amid rumors tagging Harold as the prime suspect in the killing of Lontoc in an ambush in Malabon last Sept. 25.

Talk has it that Lontoc and Harold are partners in a gun dealing business and the victim was killed over “money matters.”

According to rumors, Harold, who happens to be a friend of President Aquino, is now under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima vehemently denies.

Purisima pointed out that the name of Harold did not crop up during their investigation of the killing of Lontoc, and the President has not shown any interest in the case.

Padilla said he is the one who knows Aquino very well but “we have not talked for several months now.”