Facebook leads to arrest of ex-prosecutor's "killer"

CEBU, Philippines – A message on facebook led the Talisay City police operatives to arrest in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental the 17-year-old accused in the murder of retired Regional State Prosecutor Hernando Masangkay.

Talisay City police chief Henry Biñas arrested the accused, name withheld for being a minor, Saturday evening inside a resto bar in San Carlos City where he joined a male fashion show.

Biñas said they were tipped off by one of Masangkay's children of the accused's whereabouts after the latter posted a message on his facebook account saying, "kita kitakits sa San Carlos City."

The information was pursued by the police after they have also confirmed that the accused already left the spa he was working in the uptown area of Cebu City.

Armed with the warrant of arrest for robbery with homicide issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Judge Sylvia Paderanga, Biñas together with Police Officer 3 Mikie Espina and PO2 Stephen Sefuesca went to San Carlos City Saturday evening.

With the assistance of the local police, the accused was located by the team of Biñas in La Riquah Resto Bar where he was one of the models in a fashion show.

The police waited until the show was over before serving the warrant of arrest against the minor accused.

The minor and two other unidentified cohorts are accused in the killing of Masangkay in June.

The former regional state prosecutor was robbed of his P10,000 gold necklace and P4,000 cash inside his house in Talisay City.

The accused was said to be Masangkay's on call driver and he was the last person seen in the house before the victim was found dead.

The accused admitted working as driver of Masangkay until March 2010. On May 2010, he claimed to have already stopped working for Masangkay after he was hired to work in a spa.

Masangkay was found dead inside his house in Phase 3D, Camella Homes, Barangay Lawaan I, Talisay City on June 28.

The crime was discovered after his children got worried when he failed to answer text messages or phone calls from them.

The victim sustained stabbed wound on his neck and found three pillows placed on his head. The autopsy revealed that the victim had bruises on the right part of his face, nose, left ear, and lower left ear. Said bruises showed that there was pressure used and a pillow was used to cover the face of the victim while asleep.

Masangkay's former driver was charged based on circumstantial evidence, including finger prints lifted from the crime scene which matched to that of the minor. - with Brenda D. Batuto, Banat News/FPL (FREEMAN)