4 face arrest in Chua slay case

The Manila regional trial court issued yesterday arrest warrants for four cadets who were indicted by government prosecutors for the murder of University of Santo Tomas cadet Mark Welson Chua in March 2001.

Judge Edelwina Pastoral of Branch 18 has ordered the arrest of Paul Joseph Tan, Michael Von Rainard Manangbao, Eduardo Tabrilla and Arnulfo Aparri Jr. who were held liable by State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes and Ruben Zacarias for Chua’s slay.

"All told, the panel finds probable cause for conspiracy in the murder of Chua against Tan, Manangbao, Tabrilla and Aparri. They should be equally indicted for the death of Chua," the prosecutors stated in their 19-page resolution.

"The fact that the said victim was hog-tied, blindfolded, his head wrapped by a packaging tape, his body rolled in a carpet and later thrown into the river and eventually died of drowning qualifies the offense to murder, " the Department of Justice resolution said.

The prosecutors junked the charges against three other suspects, however, due to "insufficient evidence." They were Patrick Christopher Cruz, Eliseo Pitargue Jr. and Emmanuel Rico Corpuz.

The victim’s father, Welson, told reporters he was happy that the charges have been filed finally but expressed fears that most of the suspects could evade prosecution by going abroad. He cited the case of Manangbao who is now in the United States.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said the justice department will most likely seek Manangbao’s extradition, based on the charges filed. He said the suspect’s father is the chief of police of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

Mr. Chua revealed that he suspects agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, who are to serve the arrest warrants, may have a hard time finding Paul Tan because he is a relative of the former Vice Mayor of Lamitan in Basilan. "I just hope that they get arrested," he said. – Delon Porcalla