CEBU CITY – Police filed criminal charges against a senior police official and three others in connection to the murder of Cebuano hotelier Richard King in Davao City in southern Philippines, official said Wednesday.
Officials said those charged were Superintendent Leonardo Felonia, of the Police Regional Intelligence Unit, who allegedly hired Paul Dave Labang to kill the 56-year old King, and brothers Rommel and Rodel Cerna, who were his accomplices.
King was shot on June 12 inside the Vital C Building where he held a seminar on his health products.
Regional police spokesman Chief Inspector Jed Clamor said Labang – who was arrested June 22 – admitted during interrogation that Felonia allegedly hired him to kill King. The two brothers – who both surrendered after Labang’s arrest – acted as lookout and driver in Labang’s escape. Both were residents of Davao City’s Talomo district.
He said police also seized a .45-caliber pistol and 14 bullets from Labang when he was arrested June 22 in Ma-a village in Davao City. It was not immediately known whether the gun was the same weapon used in the King’s murder.
“The Special Investigation Task Group filed charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office against the perpetrators in the murder of businessman Richard Lim King,” Clamor said.
He said Labang – a resident of Davao City’s Toril district – has been positively identified by 8 people who witnessed the killing in a police line up. Labang is also facing charges for possessing illegal the gun and ammunition.
“During the investigation, suspects Rommel and Rodel Dela Cerna claimed that they were hired by Police Superintendent Leonardo Felonia of Regional Intelligence Unit 11. This prompted SITG to file murder charges against Felonia before the City Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators said that no other evidence yet linking Felonia to King’s death except for the extra judicial confession from the three arrested suspects,” Clamor said.
The motive of the killing is still unknown, but Clamor said the police are still conducting deeper investigation to gain further details of the case.
King was the chairman of the Vital C Health Products, Inc., and CEO of J. King and Sons, and Fuente Triangle Realty Development Corp. and Founder and Director of the Boracay Multiple Properties Developers, Inc. He also owned Crown Regency Hotels and Resorts in Cebu province. (Cebu Examiner)
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