Suspect in slay of Tiong San owner on the run; hunt upped

PNP eying two others 

BAGUIO CITY – A suspect in the killing of businessman Henry Tan Lao, whose family owns the Tiongsan chain of department stores here and in Benguet, a hotel and gasoline stations, is still on the run as of press time, object of police manhunt.

Lao’s business establishments like his department stores along Mabini and Magsaysay Roads here have opened after these were closed right after he was killed.

Lao was found at his residence here Dec. 1with 34 stab wounds with police identifying a certain Arjay Pasamonte, as suspect who reportedly fled to his hometown in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Authorities went to his residence but he was not there.  

The Baguio City police office is eyeing two more suspects even as it is conducting intensive investigations on the matter, considering the victim’s house was not equipped with a CCTV camera.

This, even as the family of Lao was reported as saying they preferred to keep silent on the matter and let police investigate. 

Investigators earlier said the victim, a 68-year-old bachelor who lived with numerous cats, could have been killed the night before he was found.

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

City police director Senior Supt. Rolando Miranda said Lao and Pasamonte were seen together getting inside the victim’s residence where the killing transpired at No. 232 Happy Homes, Barangay Ferdinand here.

Earlier police investigation disclosed at about 9 a.m. that day, the sales lady of Lao, requested the businessman’s security, a certain SPO2 Jimmy Valdez to check on her boss who did not yet report at his Supermart.

Valdez proceeded at the residence of Lao and found his lifeless and bloodied body totally naked and lying sideways on the foam placed on the floor inside his room. 

A witness said the night Lao was killed, he heard him faintly pleading for his life to a person inside his house.

Moments later, he saw a man who seemed nervous and disturbed going out of the house.   

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

Lao was recently caught on video scolding a customer he accused of theft at his department store.

The trade department sent Lao to a seminar for customer relations over the incident. Reports said the victim’s tongue was cut when found.

Police urged witnesses or those who had knowledge on whereabouts of the suspects to report these to police to arrive to an early solution of the case.