Owner of getaway car in Frenchman’s slay known

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators have identified the owner of the getaway car used by the robbers who shot dead a French tourist in Pasay City Friday, an official said yesterday.

Land Transportation Office records show that the Toyoto Corolla (PSV-450), seen used by the robbers who killed Hofman Pierre Paul Franz, is registered under the name of Elmer Gamelo.

Two police teams went to Gamelo’s listed address in Las Piñas Saturday but failed to find him there, said Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, deputy chief for operations of the Southern Police District. His sister told police Gamelo has not returned home since Friday.

“He is not yet a suspect in the killing. But we are conducting a background investigation on him to determine whether he has past criminal records,” said Capa, the head of Task Force Hofman.

A source said investigators are comparing three shells of .45 caliber bullets recovered at the scene of Franz’s killing with those from the murder of Police Officer 2 Jesus Lapuz, who was shot dead in front of the Japanese embassy last year by one of two motorcycle-riding men tailing a tourist bus he was escorting.

Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leonardo Espina expressed confidence that the killing of Franz would “be solved in due time.”

Franz and his two compatriots, a mother and her son, arrived in the country last Thursday. They were waiting for a taxicab to bring them to a bus terminal for their trip to Baguio City when three robbers tried to grab his belt bag containing 750 euros. Franz fought back and was shot in the process.

The three robbers boarded a motorcycle and transferred to a Toyota Corolla  in front of the Music 21 lounge along Roxas Boulevard and a witness managed to jot down the plate number of the getaway vehicle.

Franz died while being rushed to the hospital.