Partner denies masterminding Phl shooter’s murder

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman laughed off accusations yesterday that he masterminded the ambush-slaying of his business partner, Philippine practical shooting team member Michael Lontoc, in Malabon City two years ago.

Harold Padilla, 34, blamed politics and “revenge” as possible motives for alleged efforts to tarnish his name as he vowed to face all possible charges that might crop up against him. He said he is running for chairman of Barangay San Agustin in Malabon in the next barangay elections.

Padilla described Jimmy Pianiar, one of the suspects in Lontoc’s ambush, as a “liar, who might be coached by somebody to link (me) to the case.”

“I don’t know him. And our records showed that he never have been an employee of our company,” said Padilla, whose family owns a Malabon-based firm that manufactures Spring cooking oil.

He said Lontoc’s widow, Lenny, also dismissed the recent developments in the investigation of Lontoc’s murder.

He said he also played a key role in the filing of charges against Police Officer 2 Cris San Agustin for the killing of Lontoc.

“I could not think of any other reasons why I’m being linked to Lontoc’s killing except the two mentioned above,” he said.

A shooter himself, Padilla is a member of the Philippine shooting team that went home with a big haul of medals in a shooting competition in New Zealand recently.

During his debriefing with operatives from the Intelligence Group (IG) in Camp Crame, Pianiar claimed Padilla provided them with handguns and set up the attempts on Lontoc’s life.

He said Padilla paid his group 10 handguns, 38 hand grenades and a Bushmaster rifle after they killed Lontoc on Sept. 25, 2011.

After Lontoc’s death, Padilla was taken into custody by an official of the Special Action Force in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as he received death threats through text messages.

Padilla said he surrendered to police authorities a cache of firearms and explosives Lontoc allegedly kept in a Malabon apartment.