By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities have identified the suspect behind the killing of a Filipino-Chinese businessman who was gunned down outside his hardware store on Bonifacio Street in Bacolod City’s Barangay 12 on Tuesday morning, September 9, tagging the perpetrator as an alleged gun-for-hire.

In a press conference yesterday, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, said the suspect has a standing warrant of arrest for attempted homicide and violation of Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition).

His identity is being withheld.

Coronica said they already have a photograph of the suspect and other alleged gun-for-hire personalities in the shooting.

All witnesses who were shown the pictures positively identified the suspect among those photos, he said.

The BCPO director added that the suspect, though previously arrested, was able to post bail and later failed to attend court hearings, which resulted in his outstanding warrant.

“We want the suspect to speak and reveal who the mastermind is,” Coronica stressed.

On Tuesday, 52-year-old Filipino-Chinese Romie Li, a resident of Barangay Taculing, was shot dead in broad daylight while opening his hardware store in the Central Market.

Witnesses reported that the suspect had been loitering in the area before Li arrived to open his store.

Coronica said a special investigation team has been created — composed of Police Station 1, the City Intelligence Unit, and the City Investigation and Detection Unit — to conduct backtracking and forward-tracking activities to help identify the possible companions of the suspect.

Investigators are also exploring possible motives behind the shooting, including either a business-related dispute or a personal grudge.

“There could be someone behind this killing. That is what we need to dig deeper into, and we will also coordinate with Li’s family for more details if he has other businesses,” Coronica said.

He further stated that police are considering whether the Filipino-Chinese community or Li’s family may offer a reward for information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.

Special bullet

During the crime scene investigation, police recovered two spent shells at the crime scene and one slug from Li’s head.

Coronica described the ammunition as a “special hollow point bullet,” which he noted was the first of its kind encountered since he assumed office as city police director.

Meanwhile, Police Station 1 commander, Police Captain Francis Depasucat, clarified that Li was not only a contractor but also a supplier of construction materials to other contractors.

However, investigators are still determining whether his projects were tied to private entities or government undertakings.

“Once you are a supplier, you are directly engaged in contracts to provide materials,” Depasucat explained, citing testimonies from Li’s employees.

Li is a civil engineer and was the former president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers in Negros Occidental, police said.

Coronica also assured the public that the BCPO is exerting all efforts to solve the case.

“Our assurance is that while you see the police doing proactive measures to prevent crimes, we cannot perfect it,” Coronica said.

“Crimes do happen anywhere, but once they happen, the next thing we do is solve the crime. That is what we are doing now, and I assure you the BCPO’s resources are fully mobilized,” he added./CJ, WDJ