No justice for slain poll bet

The family of a candidate for barangay chairman who was shot dead and later set on fire inside a steel drum two weeks ago in Caloocan City is crying for justice as the five suspects, despite having been identified, continue to roam scot-free.

Police investigators said they are still looking for the suspects identified only as Rene Marcelo, Ernesto Lial, Edilberto Arenas and sons Darwin and Emerlando, all residents of 138 Gen. Luis Street, Kaybiga, Caloocan City.

The suspects were positively identified by witnesses as the killers of Carlos Castaneda, 54, a real estate agent and a former barangay chairman of Barangay 183. The victim was supposed to be a candidate for the same post in yesterday’s barangay polls. He was a resident of Mountain Heights Subdvision, Macatipo, Caloocan City.

The Castaneda family members are bothered why it is taking the police so long to arrest the suspects.

It was gathered that Castaneda was reported missing after he was abducted by the suspects while on his way home last June 27 on board his owner-type jeep.

The victim’s body was found by police a day later while burning inside a garbage-filled steel drum inside the Arenas Compound in Kaybiga.

It was gathered that an informant tipped off the police about hearing gunshots in the area. A team dispatched to the scene caught up with Emerlando Arenas who denied hearing shots fired in the area. The police, however, smelled burning human flesh, and after taking a closer look, discovered the victim’s body inside a garbage-filled steel drum in the compound. When they turned to ask, Emerlando was gone.

It was also gathered that the victim lost some P500,000 in cash with him and his handgun.

Meanwhile, a 17 year-old boy allegedly hanged himself Friday inside his house in Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City, the police said.

Victim Jomar Marbella, a resident of 42-C Sto. Cristo St., Barangay Balingasa, was found hanging from the ceiling of the bathroom with a plastic rope tied around his neck.

His grandmother, Gaudencia De Queros, told investigators she found Marbella’s body at about 5 p.m. The victim bore no external injuries in the body except for the marks in his throat.

According to PO1 Gregorio Maramag, a suicide note was later found in Marbella’s bedroom that he had "some incurable disease" and that his parents did not have enough money to save his life.

De Queros, however, told police that the victim might have been under a witch’s charm (kulam), and that it probably drove the boy to kill himself.

Initial reports showed that Marbella committed suicide between 12 and 3 p.m. when he locked himself inside the bathroom.

Operatives of the Central Police District are now conducting follow-up investigations on the incident to determine the real reason behind his death and to make sure that no foul play was involved.