Tussle over debt leads to Chinese trader's killing

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – A Chinese trader was shot dead while a companion was wounded during a verbal tussle over a debt with two other fellow Chinese at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga yesterday morning.

Police said the fatality, Shahani Co, alias Raymund Co, together with his friend Kay Teng, went to Villa 3406 at the Fontana Leisure Park at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday to visit Wang Yang Zhen, 48, reportedly to discuss the debt of a friend of the latter.

Wang was with Zeng Hua Quiang, alias Ricky Cheng, at that time.

Police said Wang reportedly acted as guarantor of an undetermined amount of money which Co lent to Wang’s friend.

Kay, who stayed in the car outside of Wang’s villa, said he was not aware of what transpired in the talks between Co and Wang.

But a few minutes later, he said he saw Co and Wang grappling for possession of a gun that later went off, hitting Wang in one hand.

Wang managed to take control of the gun and fired at Co, hitting the victim eight times and killing him on the spot, police said.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, Angeles City police chief, told The STAR that they were still determining the owner of a 9-mm Glock pistol recovered at the crime scene.

Bautista, however, said they were puzzled why there were bullets of two calibers at the crime scene: five spent 9-mm shells, and five spent caliber .45 shells.

Wang did not leave the crime scene and was immediately placed under arrest by responding policemen.