Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri. INQUIRER.net PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA
Malacanang has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest the killers of businessman Dominic Sytin.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Palace order was mentioned by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in a viber group discussion after Sytin was reported killed outside a hotel in Subic Wednesday night.
“Sumagot sya [Medialdea] that they already instructed General Albayalde mismo to apprehend these criminals and to give them updates…” Zubiri said at a regular forum in the Senate on Thursday.
The senator said he last saw his “very good friend” Sytin during a state dinner in Malacanang with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He believes President Rodrigo Duterte himself knows the businessman since the latter was a “well-connected” person and is a known personality in the business community.
READ: Senators condemn ‘culture of impunity’ in PH after Sytin’s slay
Sytin was the founder and chief executive officer of United Auctioneers Inc. that imports secondhand trucks, tractors and other vehicles. Sytin’s trading business has a base inside the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Olongapo City and Davao City.
Zubiri was confident that the PNP would be able to solve this killing and all other heinous crimes in the country.
READ: Gunman has ‘intent to kill’ Dominic Sytin — SBMA chief
After all, Zubiri said the Senate is working double time to pass the 2019 national budget before they go on Christmas break.
Included in next year’s budget, he said, is the proposed salary increases of the police, the military, and even retirees.
“So sana naman step up din sila di ba? Step up din sila, maging more vigilant sila dahil hindi na namin patatagalin yung budget. Hindi po magkakaroon ng reenacted budget…” Zubiri said.
He said the police and the military may receive the pay hike either by January or February next year. /jpv