Arrest warrant out for condo slay suspect

It’s now a race between the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Western Police District (WPD) for the capture of Bebs Reyes, one of those indicted for the gruesome killing of a bank employee, after the court issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday.

Manila Judge Reynaldo Alhambra of Regional Trial Court Branch 53 ordered law enforcers to arrest Reyes, a tenant of the Vellagio Tower condominium in Malate, Manila, where teller Candice Castro was found dead two months ago.

"You are hereby commanded to arrest Bebs Reyes, who stands trial before me. You must bring him to the court as soon as possible," Alhambra said.

The judge issued the warrant of arrest two days after Manila City Assistant Prosecutor Elseray Faith Noro found probable cause to hold Reyes and another suspect, Philippe Marcelo, for trial. They were charged with the capital offense of rape with homicide.

Marcelo has been locked up in jail. He was arrested a few days after Castro’s body was discovered inside her unit at the Vellagio Tower last May 12.

Castro, 23, suffered 24 stab wounds in the body. A mop handle was inserted in her private parts.

Marcelo, who had fresh scratches on his face upon his arrest, pointed to Reyes as the mastermind. Reyes, after several days, surrendered to the NBI, but was subsequently released for lack of direct evidence.

A WPD operative admitted that the NBI could easily apprehend Reyes now since agents have "direct contact" with the suspect’s family.

Manila police said they would still exert all effort to effect the immediate arrest of Reyes.

"Now that there is already a warrant for his arrest, there is no hindrance for us now to conduct a massive manhunt for his apprehension," commented a veteran police investigator.

Castro’s mother, Grace, thanked the homicide section of the WPD yesterday for the investigation of her daughter’s case, told The STAR that a hold-departure order against Reyes would probably be out by today.