5 youths nabbed for 86-year-old widow's rob-slay

Five youths were arrested yesterday for allegedly robbing and killing an octogenarian widow in San Andres Bukid, Manila last Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., who heads the Criminal and Investigation Unit (CIDU) of the Manila Police District identified the suspects as Abdulcair Pandapatan, 18; Samonading Tiempo, 19; Najer Bangcola, 20; and Christian Kit Ricafort, 18. The fifth suspect, a 14-year-old boy, was remanded to Manila’s District Social Welfare for being a minor, he added.

A knife, the victim’s watch and a pair of pearl earrings were recovered from Bangcola, said Homicide section head Chief Inspector Alberto Peco.

The body of Almodina de Ocampo, 86, a former cashier, was discovered in her room by her daughter, Alice. They live in a two-story apartment on Zapiro street.

The victim sustained stab wounds in the body, according to investigator SPO2 Paul Dennis Javier. “The victim probably put up a fight with her attacker as evidenced by stab wounds on her right hand,” he added.

The victim’s cabinet was open and in disarray, Javier said. According to the victim’s daughters, their mother’s cash and jewelry were missing. They said the missing jewelry include four Swiss watches, an 18-karat pearl and diamond gold ring, a topaz ring, an 18-karat gold necklace with pendant, a Rosita Diamante ring, four 14-karat rings, an 18-karat earring set with a ruby, a 14-karat bracelet set with precious stones, two 14-karat bracelets, and P2,500 cash.

The victim and her two daughters are the only occupants of their rented apartment, Javier said.

Arevalo said the suspects committed the crime after a drinking bout in one of the houses behind the victim’s residence. He said the 14-year-old boy destroyed the lock of the kitchen door and allowed the other suspects to gain entry at the second floor where they ransacked the victim’s room. The victim woke up, prompting Bangcola to repeatedly stab her with the knife.

A police officer involved in the arrest told The STAR Bangcola readily admitted his participation in the crime. Bangcola told police that he and his cohorts divided the proceeds of the loot, with him getting P2,800.

However, Bangcola retracted his earlier statement when The STAR interviewed him at his detention cell. He said he was forced to admit the crime and implicate his friends after the police tortured him.

Bangcola pointed to his drinking buddies, brothers Jojo and Junior Masola, as the perpetrators of the rob-slay.

He said Jojo gave him the knife following the incident. He denied that the watch and earrings were recovered from him. The three other suspects said they were in another place when the crime was committed.

Charges of robbery with homicide are being prepared against the suspects.