Cops keep tabs on Manila motels for slay suspect

Police are now keeping a close watch on several third-class hotels in downtown Manila in an effort to snare the elusive killer who killed and burned two women in separate hotels on two occasions.

Homicide operatives of the Manila Police District, led by Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., distributed the artist’s sketches of the suspect to personnel of several motels in Sta. Cruz and Quiapo districts yesterday. “I have instructed them to immediately call the police in case any male patron who distinctly resembles the sketches checks in. I remind them not to panic but allow him to rent any room. The police will take care of the rest,” Arevalo told The STAR.

This developed even as the two women-victims remain unclaimed at the Popular Funeral Homes’ morgue in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The failure of the relatives to claim the victims also puzzled the police. “It was almost a week ago since the first incident happened, but so far no one lays claim on the bodies despite wide media exposure. Normally relatives of victims are now starting to look for them in several police stations as soon as the news is aired or printed,” Arevalo said.

Police also picked up a male patron in one of the seedy hotels in Quiapo yesterday, but immediately released him after witnesses failed to identify him. 

Police suspect only one person could have done the killings after the artist’s sketches of both suspects in two hotel slayings were found identical.

“Our manhunt is now focused on a single suspect. The artist sketches prove that the two killings were perpetrated by only one man, aside from our findings that the two circumstances in the slaying and burning of his victims are almost identical,” Arevalo said.

Investigators have still no possible motive for the killings since they do not have yet the personal records of the two victims. “If only we can talk with relatives of the victims, then we can start from there with our investigation. We are still at a loss why these victims have to suffer gruesome deaths,” Arevalo said. 

Investigators said the suspect could be a psycho who may have experienced severe depression with women partners.  — Nestor Etolle