One of three suspects in a kidnapping case has pointed to the mastermind behind the killing of a businessman whose body was stuffed inside a drum in Bulacan early this month.
According to Emil Sumangil’s report in 24 Oras on Wednesday, the mastermind allegedly paid the suspects an initial P100,000 to carry out the killing.
“Nagbigay itong mastermind ng P100,000 paunang bayad…Pag na-accomplish na patayin ang businessman, bibigyan ng karagdagang P100,000,” said Police Major Dondon Llapitan, Quezon City Police District-CIDU chief.
(The mastermind gave an initial payment of P100,000…If they accomplished the murder of the businessman, they were promised another P100,000.)
A witness in QCPD custody testified that two of the suspects kidnapped the victim outside his house in a residential subdivision in Quezon City on the morning of January 5.
One of the suspects has admitted to abducting the victim, police said.
“Sa extrajudicial confession niya, sinakal nila ng electric wire…Minamando pa ng mastermind na patagalin ng five to 10 minutes para siguradong patay na talaga,” said Llapitan. “Pagkapatay, inutusan sila ng mastermind na itapon ito kahit saan.”
(In his extrajudicial confession, they strangled the victim using an electric wire…The mastermind also ordered them to strangle him for five to ten minutes to make sure he was dead […] After the murder, they were ordered to dispose the body anywhere.)
The suspects – Alias Noli and Alias Mervin – were arrested by the QCPD after they were identified and traced by the police using CCTV footage. Video showed them withdrawing money from an ATM using the victim’s account.
“Nakita po doon sa CCTV footage na nag-withdraw sa kanyang account ay hindi po yung kanyang father, kung hindi yung dalawang suspects,” said Police Captain Febie Madrid, QCPD spokesperson.
(The CCTV footage showed the two suspects withdrawing the money and not the victim’s father.)
Meanwhile, the mastermind was arrested the day after he contacted Noli and Mervin.
Investigation revealed the mastermind and the victim have known each other for a long time and that the crime stemmed from a land dispute between the two men.
Complaints of kidnapping with homicide against the three suspects have been filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
The QCPD added that Mervin will stand as a witness against his two fellow suspects. The police said that Mervin was accidentally involved in the crime.
“Akala niya magbabantay lang ng farm. Ngayon, nabigla lang siya,” said Llapitan.
(He thought they would just guard a farm. So he was surprised to know what the real plan was.)
“Actually, napakalaking tulong nito. Tingin ko, 100% mako-convict ang mga ito,” he added.
(Actually, this will be a big help in the case. I’m 100 percent optimistic that these suspects will be convicted.)
The alleged mastermind has refused to comment on the accusations.
The mastermind in the businessman’s slay was also earlier accused by actress Rochelle Barameda as the brain behind her sister Ruby Rose’s murder in 2007. Ruby Rose’s body was also found inside a cement-filled drum in Navotas.
The actress went to the National Bureau of Investigation earlier in the day to request for fingerprint analysis to prove her allegation against the alleged mastermind. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
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