Atienza orders arrest of rape-slay suspect

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered a massive manhunt against the alleged principal suspect and other accomplices in the rape slaying of a 23-year-old bank employee in her condominium unit in Malate last week.

It’s not enough that we were able to get one of the suspects. I want to find out the exact details of the crime and we can only do so if all the perpetrators are caught, questioned and placed behind the bar of justice, especially the principal suspect," Atienza said.

Atienza directed the Western Police District (WPD) to locate a certain Babes Reyes, being pointed to as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Candice Castro.

Reyes is said to be a son of Bienvenido Reyes, an intelligence officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernando confirmed that Reyes is connected with the agency but had been absent for quite some time now without official leave.

Atienza said Fernando assured him that a hold departure order has been released to prevent Reyes from leaving the country.

Babes Reyes was implicated by Philippe Marcelo, who was earlier arrested for killing Castro at Unit 1103 of Vellagio Tower in Leon Guinto St., Malate last May 10.

Marcelo, who was charged with murder, was presented to Atienza by WPD officials led by Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong yesterday.

Police said the Manila Prosecutor’s Office recommended no bail for the release of Marcelo.

But Atienza told Bulaong that the case is not yet closed as the mastermind and other accomplices are still at large.

Aside from Reyes and Marcelo, police are also looking into the involvement of Jonas Santiago, Raymundo Ruiz and Jovemir Maquilan, who were allegedly with Marcelo and Reyes when the crime was committed.