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Suspect in Lozano son slay identified

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:29:00 01/19/2011

Filed Under: Crime, Murder

MANILA, Philippines – Police have already identified one of the suspects in the brutal killing of Emerson Lozano, the son of Marcos lawyer Oliver Lozano, whose body was found burned beyond recognition in Porac, Pampanga last week.

In a press conference Wednesday, Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, head of the special investigating task group looking into the killings, refused to give further details as to the identity of the suspect except that he was a “main participant” in the crime and already has previous records of criminal offenses.

“We have already identified a suspect but that’s all the information we can give you. We cannot divulge it to you yet because manhunt operation is ongoing,” Estipona said.

Investigators also revealed that the suspect behind the killing of the young Lozano was also involved in the killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista.

The suspect, according to Highway Patrol Group director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, is believed to be operating in a group.

“Our investigation points to a group… In fact, as of now it seems that only [Lozano and Evangelista] were the targets and [Ernane] Sensil (Lozano’s driver) was not the main target. That is exactly what we are trying to find out,” Espina said in the same conference.

Earlier in the day, police already recovered the vehicle of Lozano, a Kia Carnival, which was also burnt in Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Police said the suspects could have burned the van to destroy evidence.

“Maybe this is an attempt by the criminals to destroy evidence. However, one of the pieces of evidence, the chassis and engine number are hard to burn,” Espina said.

But police have yet to determine the motive behind the killings.

“It may be carnapping, it may be not. It may be vengeance or not. That’s why we need the motive,” Espina said.

Estipona, meanwhile, said that police were still waiting for Oliver Lozano’s affidavit as to his statement that his son was a victim of “mistaken identity.”