3 Novaliches massacre suspects face charges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed multiple murder charges with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against three of the seven men linked to the killing of five persons during a birthday party in Novaliches, Quezon City, last month.

State prosecutor Misael Ladaga said they found probable cause to indict Armond Sy, 36, his younger brother Clarito, and Romeo Francisco, all residents of Novaliches, Quezon City, for the murder of five persons on the night of June 12.

"Likewise indubitably established, is the fact that it was premeditated to insure the success (sic) execution of the crime under the pretext of partaking (sic) the party of a birthday celebrant," Lagada said in a four-page resolution.

Police records showed that the massacre took place at the height of a drinking bout in the house of the elder Sy in Interior II, Jose Abad Santos street, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches.

Responding policemen found bleeding victims Lauro Adolfo, 56; Eufemio Barcelona, 56; Rudy Fuentes, 57; Virgilio Santiago, 52; and Maria Luisa Untalan sprawled on the floor with gun and stab wounds in different parts of the body.

However, Senior Inspector Alexander Navarette of the Western Police District Station 1, the alleged mastermind, and three other suspects, were not included in the charge sheet pending the result of the preliminary investigation being conducted by DOJ prosecutors.

Lagada said the DOJ set on July 23 the preliminary investigation of the implication of Navarette, Gerald Portez, Bobet Niete and Erid Salonga in the massacre.

Salonga, who was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation two weeks after the killing, confessed that the elder Sy invited all of them, including Navarette to join his birthday party on June 12. – Cecille Suerte Felipe

At the height of the drinking session, Salonga said Navarette and Santiago had a heated argument over an old grudge, during which the suspects took turns in shooting and stabbing the victims.

Before the arrest of Salonga, Navarette surrendered to the Central Police District two days after the incident but was released for lack of evidence to pin him down to the massacre. – Cecille Suerte Felipe