OLONGAPO CITY — The self-confessed gunman in the killing of businessman Dominic Sytin last year has pleaded guilty to murder and frustrated murder charges before the court, staying true to his allegation that the killing was masterminded by the victim’s brother.

Edgardo Luib, who was arraigned at the sala of Judge Richard Paradeza of Regional Trial Court Branch 72 here on Wednesday, entered a guilty plea to charges of murdering Sytin and for the frustrated murder of Sytin’s bodyguard Efren Espartero.

Luib’s lawyer Zaldy Ambon said his client was bothered by his conscience and has decided to come clean and admit to the crime.

Sytin and Espartero were about to enter the Lighthouse Marina Resort Hotel in Subic’s busy Central Business District at about 7:30 p.m. on November 28, when a masked suspect fired at close range, shooting Sytin at the back and left part of the head. The businessman died on the spot.

Espartero tried to fire back, but the assailant turned on him, too, hitting his right arm and right torso.

Last March, Luib was arrested for another case in Batangas and upon investigation admitted killing Sytin for a fee and implicated Sytin’s younger brother Dennis as the architect of the killing.

Police investigators had since described the case as stemming from a business rivalry between the Sytin brothers.

Luib reiterated his allegations against Dennis in his sworn statement submitted to the court on Wednesday.

Judge Paradeza has set the resumption of the trial on September 11. — Henry Empeño