Manhunt on for Baguio hotelier’s killer

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Investigators are hunting down the suspect in the killing of hotelier and department store owner Henry Lao, whose body was found at his home here on Tuesday. 

Although investigators are eyeing robbery as the motive for the killing, police said Lao could have known the suspect, identified as Arjay Pasamonte.

City police director Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda said Lao and Pasamonte were seen together getting inside the victim’s residence in Barangay Ferdinand.

Investigators said the victim could have been killed on Monday night.

Lao, who owns the Tiongsan chain of department stores in this city and in Benguet, a hotel and gasoline stations died from at least 34 stab wounds, police said.

Neighbors told probers they heard a noise and saw a man leaving the victim’s house at around 11 p.m. Monday.