Murder suspects collared in QC

Police arrested the other day three of the seven persons involved in the killing of a 43-year-old carpenter last week in a videoke bar in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The suspects were identified as Jobert Amoida, 17, Mario Marino, 25, and Roy Lo-oc, 28, all residents of Balintawak, Quezon City. At least four of their cohorts are still at-large, police said.

Investigators said they are responsible for the murder of Jaime Bartina, a carpenter, of 24 F.Carlos St., Barangay Apolonio Samson.

Police sources said the suspects in Bartina’s slay are "nightly loiterers" at the Nog-Nog videoke bar on A. Bonifacio St.

Reports showed Amoida, Marino, Lo-oc and their cohorts mauled Bartina outside the bar on June 10 at about 3 a.m.

Bartina reportedly hit his head on a concrete surface and fell unconscious. The suspects fled the scene as the bleeding victim was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital for treatment. He died the following day.

The motive for the murder was still unclear but police had already ruled out robbery. – Matthew Estabillo