Two down, one to go

The suspected brains behind the killing of a Christian missionary and her housemaid is now under police custody after his mother turned him in for fear that she would be charged as an accomplice to the crime.

Ralph Lester Roxas, 18, of 78 Dagohoy street, Pook Ricarte in Diliman, is now detained at the Central Police District (CPD) headquarters.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. presented the suspect to the media yesterday after Leticia Roxas turned her son over to agents of the CPD—Criminal Investigation Unit at about 2 p.m.

Roxas was tagged by Jesus Austero III, 18, another suspect, as the robbery "mastermind." Austero was arrested the other day.

A third suspect, Nomer Mallo, 19, is still at large. He is believed to have gone into hiding in Cagayan de Oro City.

Roxas denied having had a part in the killing, saying that he was simply a "fall-guy." Marilyn Mallo, the mother of the third suspect, reportedly advised her son to "hide in the province until the whole thing blows over."

Last Tuesday, the three teenagers allegedly robbed and stabbed to death Myrna Loi Beebe, 58, and Jovelyn Parejo, 21, inside their residence at 13 Viola street, St. Dominic Subdivision in Barangay Culiat at 1:35 a.m.

Belmonte commended the policemen for the speedy arrests, saying that this should serve as a lesson to others that "crime does not pay."

A Gucci watch, a Nokia 3310 cell phone, assorted pieces of jewelry and about P15,000 in cash were recovered by policemen from Austero. All items belonged to the slain missionary.

Austero was arrested after a follow-up operation by elements of the CPD-Theft and Robbery Section, led by Inspector Jaime Amor.

He was collared near his home at about 7 p.m. Mallo was with Austero at the time but was able to run away, police said.