Couple called for questioning on death of Japanese national

CEBU, Philippines - Two persons close to the Japanese national who was killed inside his rented pad in barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City Tuesday morning was invited for police interrogation yesterday.

Couple Marilie and Rogelio Paracueles, who were with Takao Ukena for quite a time, were taken to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station.

Inspector Zenaido Pastorfide of the Homicide Section said that Rogelio was working with a certain Mr. Ty while Marilie was the helper of Ukena.

Mr. Ty and Ukena were reported to be relatives and friends.

Pastorfide disclosed that Rogelio was the one who delivered Ukena’s money from Mr. Ty, who was giving P40,000-monthly allowance to Ukena.

The couple denied any hand in the murder of the Japanese, saying Ukena had helped them earn a living.

The police believe robbery as the sole motive of the crime.

Ukena’s cellular phone and wallet containing an undetermined amount of money and the automated teller machine (ATM) card were lost.

The crime laboratory result shows that Ukena resisted when he was strangled based on the contusions in his nose bridge, eyelids and in different parts of his body. He also had a cut on his forehead.

Marilie found Ukena lying on his bed with an electrical cord tied around his neck.

The police said they will be reviewing today the closed-circuit television camera at the house fronting Ukena’s pad, hoping they would find more clues. — (FREEMAN)