Cebu hotel president shot dead; cops eye sibling rivalry

CEBU CITY , Philippines  – Police operatives are investigating if sibling rivalry between businessmen Manuel Ting and his brother Nicholas is behind two separate shooting incidents here and in Mandaue City involving the two brothers.

Manuel, 72, owner of Parklane Hotel in Cebu, was shot dead on board his Mercedes Benz at Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, last Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after an attempt on the life of his younger brother Nicholas, 70.

Nicholas was shot and wounded by unidentified suspects last Monday night in Mandaue City.

Chief Superintendent Lani-O Nerez, Central Visayas police director, said the special task force investigating the two shooting incidents was ordered to check if there were formal complaints previously filed by the brothers against each other.

Nerez said that it would be too early to confirm if sibling rivalry is behind the two shooting incidents.

He said Task Force Ting, led by Senior Superintendent Ramon Buenafe who is also the current head of the Regional Intelligence Division, is exerting all efforts to identify the suspects in both incidents.

“We can’t say that the two incidents are connected,” said Nerez in a phone interview. “We will consider all angles like business and personal as possible motive in the attacks.”

Police said Manuel Ting was shot several times while he was driving his silver-gray Mercedes Benz with license plate MGT 168 along F. Llamas Street in front of the new Gaisano Capital Mall in Barangay Tisa, Cebu.

Nerez said that based on the manner Manuel was killed, the incident was well planned and the gunman, they believed, was a professional killer.

Nicholas, who suffered several gunshot wounds after the attack last Monday night, is now recuperating at Chong Hua Hospital.

Police said Nicholas, who is also the father-in-law of newly elected Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano-Dizon, sustained gunshot wounds in his chest, spine, left arm, and a graze wound on his left cheek, and is now in stable condition.

The victim was on board his red Honda CRV with license plate HUS-888 near the corner M.L. Quezon Ave. and H. Cortes St. in Barangay Cabangcalan, Mandaue.

Police said Nicholas’ female companion was about to open the gate of her apartment when the suspects attacked the victim.

The woman, who refused to be identified, said Nicholas fetched her from school and had just dropped her off at the apartment when the shooting occurred.