Senators welcome arrest of Sytin slay suspect, call brother's supposed involvement 'tragic'

Senators on Tuesday welcomed the arrest of the alleged gunman in the killing of businessman Dominic Lim Sytin even as they deemed tragic the supposed involvement of the victim’s brother.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said if it is confirmed that Dominic’s brother is the mastermind “then his death is a double tragedy.”

“Maybe a victory for justice but a sad and tragic one for the family. Nevertheless we thank the PNP for its relentless pursuit of justice for the Sytin family no matter who was guilty,” he said in a message to reporters.

Senator Panfilo Lacson lauded the Philippine National Police for solving the case.

“I take my hat off to the PNP for the credible solution of the Sytin murder case. He was a friend and so is his brother Rommel. It is doubly tragic that the family has to deal with the loss of Dominic and now the alleged involvement of another brother,” he posted on Twitter.

I take my hat off to the PNP for the credible solution of the Sytin murder case. He was a friend and so is his brother Rommel. It is doubly tragic that the family has to deal with the loss of Dominic and now the alleged involvement of another brother.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) March 11, 2019

Senator Richard Gordon said the arrest of suspect Edgardo Luib in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, last week “shows that the police are doing their job.

“It is a good break in the case,” he said in a press statement.

However, Gordon said the police should study all angles and determine the real motive behind the killing.

“What motivated the killer? It was an extra-judicial confession. To be admissible, it must be voluntary; made with the assistance of a competent and independent counsel; express; and in writing,” he said.

Sytin was the founder and chief executive officer of United Auctioneers Inc., an auctioneer of used trucks and heavy equipment in Subic. He also owned ACEA Subic Bay Resort.

He was gunned down outside the Lighthouse Hotel in Subic in November last year. his bodyguard, Efren Espartero, was wounded in the incident.

PNP announced Monday the arrest of Luib who then tagged Sytin’s younger brother, Dennis, as the mastermind in the killing. Police said that based on Luib’s extrajudicial confession, the murder was motivated by rivalry.

The police said two .45 bullets and nine cartridges recovered from the crime scene matched with Sytin’s .45 Norinco pistol that was confiscated from the suspect.

Also confiscated from Luib were a .30 carbine, .40 pistol and a “large sachet” of marijuana. His fingerprints standard also matched from the latent prints lifted from side mirror of Yamaha Mio motorcycle used in the shooting.

In a statement, Dennis denied conspiring to kill his brother, arguing that he was being used to mask the identity of the real killers.

Senators earlier adopted Resolution 113 condemning the killing of Sytin and urging the law enforcement agencies to resolve the crime and hold accountable those responsible. —KBK, GMA News