Reward goes up to P1.3 million; cops release sketch of suspect
A composite sketch of the gunman who killed Richard King last June 12. The sketch was first given to the family last June 14 when King’s remains arrived in Cebu City. (CDN Photo/Michelle Joy L. Padayhag)
The family of slain businessman Richard King increased their share of the tipster’s reward to P1 million, making the total bounty P1.3 million.
Davao City police yesterday announced the increase in the reward for information that would lead to the capture of King’s killers.
At the same time, the police released the facial sketch of the gunman which had been prepared days earlier.
“A reward of P1,300,000 awaits any information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect/s,” the Davao police said in a statement said.
Senior Supt. Vicente Danao Jr., Davao City police chief, said King’s family would now give P1 million while the Davao City government would pay P300,000.
“We have no deadline in solving the case but Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte calls me for updates,” he said.
Close range
King, founder of the Crown Regency Group of Hotels with various investments in resorts, warehouses, and real property , was shot at close range in the head during a gathering of his distributors inside Vital-C’s building in Obrero about 7 p.m. of June 12.
Mayor Duterte added P300,000 to the initial P200,000 reward money raised by King’s family whom he met after the killing.
The facial sketch was made based on accounts of several witnesses. King was about to have dinner with his staff and guests in the building of Vital C, a health products company he headed, when a gunman casually walked up from behind him and fired at his head.
Leads
Unlike other killings in Davao, the assailant didn’t wear a mask or a motorcycle helmet to conceal his identity, the police said.
A man on a motorcycle, who also served as a lookout, was waiting outside the building.
The gunman boarded the motorcycle after the shooting and both fled.
Police forces in Cebu and Davao said they were following several leads including the possibility of “business rivalry” and “personal” conflicts since King had business ventures across the country.
Not alarming
King was the chairman of Vital-C Health Products, Inc. and Vital-C Land Development Corp, the CEO of J. King and Sons, the president of Fuente Triangle Realty Development Corp and the founder and director of Boracay Multiple Properties Developers Inc.
A PNP spokesman in Manila said crime incidents were still “manageable” overall.
“It’s not that alarming… It’s still manageable but it’s a cause of study,” Chief Supt. Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said in a press briefing.
Flagging
Aside from King, race car driver Enzo Pastor was also gunned down in Quezon City on Independence Day. Five days earlier, gunmen killed a Pangasinan town mayor on the eve of his wedding anniversary.
King will be laid to rest after an 8 a.m. requiem Mass today at the St. Peter’s Chapel in Imus Street, Cebu City. From there a funeral procession will head to Cempark in Banilad for the burial.
Last night, Christian and Chinese tradition blended in the final evening vigil service for King.
Flowers filled the hall, including a prominent flower arrangement of chrysanthemums from Vice President Jejomar Binay beside the framed photo of King.
King ‘s widow Kathryn sat with their children Rachelle Kate and Arthur in the front with other family members.
Present for the service were Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, former Mayor Tomas Osmena and wife Councilor Margot Osmeña.
Eighteen men in blue polo shirts and red sashes first led a ritual in Mandarin, offering flowers, fruits and cakes. Candles were lit on the altar.
They shook hands with the family members of King seated in front.
Worship songs were delivered in Chinese, English and Visayan.
After the singing, Rev. Fr. Macky Sabayle read his homily “Death and Jesus Christ”.
“Friends, I believe God has something to say to everyone. When victory and success hapens, and even at the ponit of death, he has something to say,” said the priest.
He said “death is the destiny of every man, whether you are rich or poor…. God knows what your are going through right now. Jesus is our only Savior from eternal death.”
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Businessman Richard King shot dead in Davao City
P.5M tipster’s reward for informants of King’s killers
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