BULACAN, Philippines — National Police chief General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has ordered a deeper investigation of the June 27 massacre that left a family of five dead, as a third person of interest earlier reported abducted was found dead Saturday, an apparent victim of summary execution.
Earlier, Bulacan police had given assurances they will secure the persons of interest earlier picked up for questioning, but three of whom have since been killed, sparking concern that vigilante justice – assuming this is so – may never allow authorities to find the perpetrators because no suspect has been brought to trial.
A fourth person of interest, Alvin Mabesa, was also reported missing, after being seized by unidentified men. The original person of interest, construction worker Carmelino Ibañez, earlier was reported to have confessed to the gruesome killing of the family of security guard Dexter Carlos.
In the third death of a person of interest, the body of Anthony Garcia, 29, was found by the roadside in Brgy. Pacalag in San Miguel town about 6 a.m. Saturday. His face was covered with duct tape, and a placard with the words. “Addict at rapist ako. Huwag tularan [I am an addict and rapist; don’t imitate me]” was placed by his corpse. It was signed by “BDS,” an apparent imitation of the “DDS” or Davao Death Squad, though police refused to speculate on what the acronym meant.
Gunshot wounds were seen on his forehead and body, and he showed signs of strangulation.
A spot report by the San Miguel PNP said police received a call about 6am about a body found on the roadside. Earlier, the San Miguel PNP were alerted by Garcia’s relatives after unidentified armed men seized him at dawn. The men wore bonnets and dragged Garcia to a green AUV with no license plate.
Garcia’s body was brought to Dariz Funeral Service in Gapan, Nueva Ecija for medico-legal examination.
The San Jose Del Monte PNP confirmed that Garcia was one of the persons of interest tagged by the first suspect in the Bulacan Massacre, where the wife, mother in law and three children of security guard Dexter Carlos were killed. His wife showed signs of apparent rape.
Last Tuesday (July 4), the first person of interest in the Bulacan Massacre, Ronaldo Pacinos alias “Inggo,” was found dead with stabbing wounds, and some fingers cut off.
On Wednesday, unidentified armed men barged into the house of the second person of interest, Rosevelth Sorima alias “Ponga” and repeatedly shot him in front of his family.
Told of news about Sorima’s death as he was burying his wife and children, Dexter Carlos said the death of anyone does not make him happy because nothing can ever bring back his loved ones. Family members said what happened to their kin should prod Congress to revive the death penalty.
The three persons of interest were tagged by the confessed killer, construction worker Carmelino Ibañez, whom police first picked up. He initially claimed he did it alone, but later tagged others, leading police to pick them up for questioning, but later released them.
Garcia’s family later reported him as having been seized by unknown men.
