Robbery eyed in Boracay slays

Police are focusing on bungled robbery behind the murder of three wealthy foreigners and a Filipina maid in the island resort of Boracay in Aklan last weekend.

Western Visayas regional police director Chief Superintendent George Aliño said investigators are focusing on the robbery angle in the murder of Swiss-born art gallery owner Manfred Schoeni, German property developer and villa owner Anton Faustenhauser, Hong Kong-based British architect John Cowperthwaite and Filipina maid Erma Sarmiento.

"We are getting a clearer lead in the case. This will be solved, it is just a matter of time," he said.

Aliño revealed the suspects have been narrowed down to nine from the initial 25.

Most of them are workers hired by Faustenhauser in the construction of his swimming pool and the landscaping of his lawn.

Sources close to the investigation revealed inquiries are now focused on two suspects, one of whom is the slain maid’s boyfriend.

Aliño stressed the suspects are the only people who have access to the house since there were no signs of forced entry.

The victims were found brutally stabbed to death early Sunday at a luxury villa on the island.

The initial investigation showed the motive of the killing was a simple robbery since the house was in total disarray, Aliño said.

"It is robbery because the house was ransacked, and it was in total disarray. We do not see any motive (other) than robbery," he said.

He said relatives of Faustenhauser were asked to account all of his property, personal belongings and pertinent documents to help the investigators determine what valuables the robbers took from the three-story luxury villa, named Dolce Vita.

Aliño stressed the incident was an isolated case of robbery with homicide.

"The first plan there was just robbery, there were killings because perhaps there was resistance," Aliño said.

"But the point here is we were able to identify the motive behind which is robbery and this is an isolated case because this is the first case that happened (on the island)," he said.

Aliño clarified police are not imposing a complete news blackout on the case. He said probers have to withhold some important details so as not to jeopardize their investigation.

Aside from the kitchen knife recovered from the scene of the crime, Aliño said there are other evidence that could identify the killers.

He said investigators are now using DNA testing to match the evidence gathered against the suspects. He said any DNA results will only support and corroborate the charges that will be filed by the PNP.

"We do not have to wait for the DNA testing once we have the statements, the witnesses and some evidence and we will file the case," he said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao said that so far, the findings of investigators pointed to robbery as the motive.

"They forced open the cabinets, all the possible locations of valuables," Goltiao said.

A friend of Faustenhauser, who did not want to be identified, said police were working on the theory the deaths were the result of a robbery that went wrong as two victims were stabbed in their beds and two on a second floor landing.

Still Safe

President Arroyo has expressed concern over the killings but reassured tourists the Philippines is still a safe destination.

"We are confident that this isolated incident will not affect the tourism trade in Boracay as security and law enforcement measures are bolstered and the culprits will be brought to justice," said Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

The murders have shocked Boracay and the expatriate community in Hong Kong.

Schoeni was a leading dealer in Chinese contemporary art with two galleries in Hong Kong’s fashionable SoHo district. The British architect was the son of Sir John Cowperthwaite, Hong Kong’s financial secretary between 1961 and 1971.

A hotel owner, who asked not to be named, said the mood in Boracay was somber. "Bars and discos were quiet... very quiet," he said.

"As yet we have had no cancellations and it should be noted that this is being treated as a local crime. It is not tourist-related as Faustenhauser has lived in Boracay for nearly five years," the owner said.

The German did not have security at the house, unlike most foreigners who co-own property in Boracay.

A friend of Faustenhauser, who did not want to be identified, said the 69 year-old developer had finished building his house about 14 months ago and was subdividing his one-hectare lot into building blocks. Schoeni was building a villa next door.

Boracay had been considered relatively safe for tourists as it was some distance from the Muslim and communist rebellions further south.

Goltiao said extra police, military and coast guard units had been deployed to Boracay to reassure tourists and residents.

Aliño, for his part, said security measures are now in place to discourage further crimes in the island resort.

"Come to Boracay, because it is very peaceful in Boracay, This case is an isolated case, a robbery case and robbery happens in any part of the world," Aliño said.

Aliño also clarified "It’s not a massacre. It’s just a killing and an isolated case."

He said the word "massacre destroys our tourism industry in Boracay and we might lose a lot of tourists in Boracay (by) reporting Boracay massacre."

The island was just recovering from a downturn caused by the region-wide terrorism alerts issued after the 2002 nightclub bombing on the Indonesian island of Bali. - With Leo Solinap, AFP