Manhunt on for third suspect in Llaguno slay

Authorities and unidentified assailants are now on a chase for the remaining suspect in the killing of Annalou Llaguno, the wife of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, last September 30 in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

The third suspect who was driving the motorcycle with two other suspects on board during the shooting incident is the last key to the possible determination on the mastermind of Llaguno's killing, said Senior Supt. Joel Doria, Cebu City Police Office director.

"Intensified na ang operation natin ngayon, hinahanap na ang remaining suspect.

Kung makukuha natin 'yon, magkakaroon ng linaw kung bakit pinatay 'yong dalawa niyang kasamahan (We are now conducting intensified operation in the search for the remaining suspect. If we capture him, it would shed light why his two cohorts were killed)," he told reporters.

"As much as possible, tayo naman, this time, ang dapat mauna (we have to be the first this time)," he added.

This as Doria advised the remaining suspect to surrender to authorities for his safety and security.

He assured that security will be afforded to the suspect once he turns himself in.

The police are withholding the name of the third suspect so as not to jeopardize their operation.

The two other suspects were already 'silenced' in less than 24 hours.

On Monday night, Michael Lendio was gunned down by two unidentified assailants while drinking in celebration of his birthday in Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City.

Doria confirmed that Lendio was among the three suspects Llaguno's killing, as identified by witnesses through a cartographic sketch.

He said Lendio's identification gave police the idea about the other suspects. He said they received reports that the suspects were also serving as escorts.

More than 18 hours from Lendio's death, the other suspect identified as Richard Jungoy was shot dead by unknown gunmen on board a motorcycle in the same barangay where Llaguno was shot.

Jungoy was crossing the street when the unidentified assailants shot him. Jungoy was also the subject of a warrant of arrest for murder and frustrated homicide charges.

Doria believes the two were killed to prevent them from squealing any information that is vital in the investigation into Llaguno's death.

Llaguno was riding a motorcycle with her boyfriend when she was shot by unidentified assailants along Carlock Street in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

Her boyfriend who was left unharmed identified Lendio as his face was not covered, unlike those of his two cohorts.

Lendio was reportedly the one who finished Llaguno off.

Police are still looking into the possible reason behind the killing.

Doria, however, said they are not discounting revenge as the motive since Llaguno was accused of squealing on the operations of the slain 'drug lord' Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz, who was killed in a shootout with police authorities in Las Piñas City last June.

Chief Supt. Augusto Marquez, Philippine National Police (PNP) director for Investigation and Detective Management, earlier disclosed that Llaguno reportedly tipped the police on Jaguar's whereabouts.

Llaguno and Espinosa were already separated whose annulment case is pending before a trial court. Llaguno reportedly had an affair with Jaguar.