The gunman had an “intent to kill” businessman Dominic Sytin, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairperson and Administrator Wilma Eisma said Thursday.
According to Eisma, the suspect waited for Sytin outside Lighthouse Hotel in Subic Bay before shooting the 51-year-old founder and chief executive officer of United Auctioneers Inc. (UAI).
“Sa initial investigation of the Philippine National Police, siya po ay talagang hinintay at there is an intent to kill po talaga. This is a murder po talaga,” Esma told RadyoINQUIRER.
In a separate interview, Philippine National Police Region III Director Supt. Joel Coronel said the gunman waited outside of the hotel for over an hour for Sytin.
“Apparently, mahigit isang oras po na naghihintay ‘yung gunman. Naghihintay at tinitingnan kung sino ‘yung dumadating,” Coronel said in an interview over dZMM.
Witnesses said the gunman had a bandana or a handkerchief covering his face.
Eisma said police have yet to determine the likely motive in the attack, adding that Sytin’s family was still “at a loss” about the possible reasons behind the businessman’s murder.
“The police are still interviewing the family and employees to find out what could be the possible motive dito sa assasination na ito,” Esma said.
“The family is at a loss kung ano ang maaaring motibo nito, so kahit po sila hindi nila mawari. Napakabait pong tao nito,” she added.
Eisma said UAI auctions off trucks and heavy equipment and has operations in Subic and Davao. She added that UAI has been doing business in Subic for more than 20 years now.
Eisma said Sytin’s remains is at the Olongapo City Memorial Funeral Home and would be transferred to Manila later.
Eisma said they will not “leave any stone unturned” to make sure perpetrators behind the killing of Sytin would be apprehended. /kga