By Lyka Manalo LIPA CITY, Batangas – The alleged gunman in the killing of the widow of a former Sto. Tomas, Batangas vice mayor, surrendered to authorities after three days of surveillance and negotiations with a police asset after he hid in his aunt’s house in Tiaong, Quezon province. Lipa City chief of police, Lt. Col. Ramon Balauag said Jerry Rabano, 46, surrendered to police at Barangay Kabatang, Tiaong at around 6 p.m., Saturday. Victim Edelina Ramos, 55, was found dead with three gunshot wounds in the head and body at Sitio Tagbakin, Barangay Halang, Lipa City last June 3. She was the wife of former Sto. Tomas vice mayor Ferdinand Ramos Sr. who was shot last year, and eventually died nine months later after falling into a coma. Edelina was allegedly shot by Rabano inside her residence in Poblacion, Barangay 2, Sto. Tomas. He body was later dumped in this city where it was later found. Police was earlier able to arrest the victim’s daughter-in-law, Joan Zara Ramos, and sister-in-law, Florina Ramos. The three and an unidentified suspect, who is still at-large, was charged with murder before the Tanauan City Prosecutor’s Office. Balauag told Manila Bulletin that Florina was the mastermind in the killing of Edelina and gave P100,000 to Joan for her to hire a killer. Balauag said Rabano received P5,000 downpayment, then another P70,000 after the crime. It was also revealed that the balance of P25,000 was allotted for buying a caliber-.45 pistol that was used in shooting Edelina. The unlicensed firearm was recovered from Rabano. Based on probers interrogations, Balauag said Rabano was not connected with any gun-for-hire syndicate or was neither a veteran. “He was a freelance gun-for-hire and it seemed he just did it twice or thrice. He was jailed for five years for an illegal drugs-related case here in Lipa,” Balauag told the Manila Bulletin. Police are still on a manhunt to arrest Rabano’s male comp0anion who was only identified as alias Pabo who helped the suspects to carry the victim’s body to a red pick-up vehicle. Police said the Edelina’s killing was connected to Ferdinand’s death which his sister, Florina, was suspecting Edelina as the mastermind.