3rd suspect in Feliciano slay nabbed

The third suspect in the sensational rape-slay of a 21-year-old woman, whose body was discovered in a Parañaque creek nine months ago, fell into the hands of the Muntinlupa police following an informant’s tip on his whereabouts.

Donardo Pagkalinawan, 45, alias Donald and Donkey, was nabbed over the weekend, leaving only two more suspects at large for the brutal killing of De La Salle University graduate Claudine Feliciano.

Pagkalinawan did not resist arrest when arrested in his home in Bayanan, Muntinlupa by combined elements of the Muntinlupa Intelligence and Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Unit.

Pagkalinawan was presented twice to the press, first with Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi in the morning and with Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Guttierez in the afternoon.

Two other alleged accomplices of Pagkalinawan were earlier arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified as Ernesto Beri and Nieves Constancio.

The half-naked body of Feliciano with a gaping wound in her head was found dumped in the creek sometime in March while her car was recovered in Makati. Feliciano is believed to have been tied up and hit with a rock in the head after her rape.

The SPD chief said Pagkalinawan’s group is also behind a series of murders involving women car drivers.

Gutierrez said the group operates by pretending to help women drivers with their flat tires, which they themselves deflated earlier. The seemingly helpful suspect refuses payment and just asks for a ride. Unknown to the potential victim, the other suspects tail them on board another car and the "friendly" man later announces the holdup.

"In some instances they would just rob the woman and take her car but if they like her (victim) they would also rape her," said Gutierez.

Aside from the Feliciano case, police said the same group is behind two similar slaying of women drivers, one in Laguna and another in Las Piñas. Pagkalinawan in statement reportedly confessed to the Las Pinas case but denied involvement in the Feliciano rape-slay.

The mother of Feliciano, however, believes Pagkalinawan is involved. "He was named by those earlier arrested, so he must be involved," said Lita Feliciano. Trial of the two other arrested suspects has began in a Parañaque court. – Jose Aravilla