Nursing graduate killed, robbed in condo unit

MANILA, Philippines - The tenants of an upscale condominium building in Sta. Cruz, Manila, were shocked upon learning that a 22-year-old nursing graduate was killed and possibly raped in her condo unit Monday night despite guards supposedly implementing strict security measures to protect them.

Police are also waiting for autopsy results to learn whether Rosalie Turcolas, a native of Allen, Northern Samar, was raped after she was discovered naked from the waist down.

Homicide section head Chief Inspector Alberto Peco said Turcolas was found dead by roommate Kristle Concha when she arrived at around 7:30 p.m. at their fourth-floor unit at the five-story Nisus Building along A.H. Lacson Avenue in Sta. Cruz. The victim, who was shot in the head, was clad only in a blue t-shirt with no underwear.

The unit was in disarray, indicating there was a struggle, Peco said.

Case officer PO2 Joseph Cabigting said several valuables were missing, including a Vaio laptop worth P35,000, two cellular phones priced at P25,000, and the victim’s cream-colored wallet, which contained an undetermined amount of cash.

Kabigting said the room was locked, as Kristle was only able to enter the room after using her duplicate key. “The suspect or suspects could have gained entry through the window,” he said.

Kabigting learned that Turcolas’ sister and Kristle left the unit on Sunday to visit their relatives in Imus, Cavite. The sister reportedly stayed behind in Cavite, while Kristle returned Monday night. Only the three women occupy the unit.

It was also a puzzle to the police why no one in the other rooms heard the gunshot, not even the guard on duty.

Police invited for questioning security guard Rodrigo Vasquez and building maintenance worker Arly Mission. The two will be subjected to paraffin tests, according to Peco. He admitted facing a blank wall in the absence of witnesses.

Sources told The STAR that security guards of condominium buildings pose no hindrance to a determined criminal, since anybody can enter through deceit and intimidation.

The sources said guards, especially those without logbooks, are helpless when intruders insist that they are visitors of tenants. Other intruders simply dash through the building when bonafide tenants open the gate with their issued keys. “Who can prohibit these persons from entering a private place when they reason out that they are relatives or friends of one of the tenants?” a tenant asked.

Building maintainers or guards on duty should be stricter in accepting visitors to condominium buildings, tenants suggested.