NCRPO: French tourist’s killing will be solved

MANILA, Philippines -  National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina expressed confidence yesterday that the killing of a French tourist by three robbers in Pasay City Friday would be “solved in due time.”

Espina said there are some “positive developments” in the case of Frenchman Hofman Pierre Paul Franz, 68, as he gave Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte, director of the Southern Police District (SPD), “much leeway to solve the killing.”

“Villacorte’s men are now in the field. We could not divulge more information we gathered for fear of jeopardizing the followup operation on the case,” said Espina in an interview. “We consider the case solved.”

Espina said a computer-generated image of the man who shot Franz is based on the descriptions provided by Franz’s companions – two Frenchmen and a Filipina – and a vendor, who said Franz’s killer is approximately 30 to 35 years old, weighed 65 to 70 kilos, of medium build and fair-complexioned. He wore a black shirt and pants, they said.

Earlier, Espina ordered the immediate relief of Inspector Jolly Soriano, commander of the Police Community Precinct 6, for not patrolling aggressively enough the area where Franz was slain – in front of a major hotel at the corner of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard.

He also directed Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Llorca, Pasay City police chief, “not to go to sleep” until Franz’s killing is solved.