At the press conference, Lascañas said it was Duterte, then mayor, who asked his driver/bodyguard, Sonny Buenaventura, to look for a hitman. Lascañas said he accepted the contract to kill radio commentator and Duterte critic Jun Pala in 2003. He was offered P3 million as reward, Lascañas said. P500,000 was set aside for operational funds.