Sketch of suspect in shooter's slay released

MANILA, Philippines - Police released yesterday a sketch of one of the men who reportedly killed Philippine practical shooting team member Michael Lontoc.

Chief Inspector Bong Sta. Teresa, head of the investigation division of the Malabon police, said the sketch of the alleged gunman, Reynante Egioma, alias Renan, was drawn by a police artist based on descriptions provided by two witnesses in the ambush-slaying of Lontoc last Sept. 25.

Sta. Teresa called on the public to call the Malabon police at telephone number 281-1135 or any other police station upon the sighting of Egioma, whom he described as “armed and dangerous.”

“We now have a clear picture of how he looks. We are now appealing to the public’s cooperation in getting him before he could strike again,” said Sta. Teresa, noting that Egioma is reportedly a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate based in Barangay Catmon.

Lontoc was on his way home after taking part in a shooting competition when he waylaid by four armed suspects. One of the slugs recovered at the crime scene matched that reportedly used by Egioma in the killing of Ronnie Evalarosa in Nov. 2 last year.

Last Wednesday, Sta. Teresa filed murder charges against Egioma before the Malabon prosecutor’s office for the killing of Evalarosa.

Sta. Teresa said all documents pertaining Lontoc’s slay are ready and what they need is a person to file the case against Egioma and several others.

Lontoc’s mother, Wally, and his widow, Len, vowed to cooperate in the investigation but have yet to give their statements to the Malabon police.

Meanwhile, police sources said there are reports that Egioma and other alleged hired guns tagged in unsolved killings in Malabon actually have two safehouses: one in the middle of a shantytown in Barangay Catmon, Malabon and the other in a resettlement area in Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela.

The source said when Malabon police are “hot on the track” of the suspected killers, the group just transfers to the other hideout.