BAGUIO CITY – The 68-year old well-known local businessman in the Summer Capital was stabbed 34 times in the different parts of his body by the still unidentified assailant inside his house late Monday evening.
Senior Superintendent Rolando F. Miranda, officer-in-charge of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), said 6 of the 34 stab wounds were described by probers as fatal which was inflicted by the suspect to ensure that the victim will not survive the said incident.
Of the 34 stab wounds, Lao sustained 20 stab wounds on his head and neck with one fatal stab wound, 7 stab wounds on his back with four fatal stab wounds, four stab wounds on his chest with one fatal stab wound and three stab wounds on his hands and feet.
Aside from murder, the lone suspect, who is now the subject of a massive manhunt operation by local police, stands to face robbery charges after he reportedly took with him the victim’s cellphone and a huge sum of money that was inside his wallet considering that such things were reported missing during the investigation.
Lao, a controversial businessman because of his ability to malign employees and customers of Tiong San stores right in public, was found lifeless inside his house with multiple stab wound on the different parts of his body at around 10:30 am Tuesday.
Miranda said probers were able to take under their custody three possible witnesses who were able to issue statements that were valuable in the identification of the suspect and the motive of the crime to support the filing of appropriate charges against the perpetrator.
By Dexter A. See
