6 charged in nursing graduate's robbery, homicide

MANILA, Philippines - Police have filed robbery with homicide charges against six persons tagged in the rob-slay of a nursing graduate whose body was discovered in a condominium unit in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Feb. 23.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has given police one week to catch two of the suspects – Jimmy Tijam, alias Kambal; and Gilbert, alias Takyo – who are still at large.

Police filed charges against a 17-year-old boy and his 39-year-old father; Edmund Gameng, alias “Botchok;” and Regie Santos, alias “Mommy Josie.”

Police said the boy, Gameng, Tijam and Gilbert are members of the “Akyat Bahay” gang operating in Manila and Quezon City.

Lim said he wants the boy “tried as an adult.”

“In the United States, even if you’re a minor, if you perpetrate a heinous crime, you will be charged as an adult. What he did, was that something a child would do?” he said.

Santos was also charged with violation of the anti-fencing law for buying items stolen from the victim, Rosalie Turcolas, 22, who was shot in the head.

Her roommate found her body in the fourth floor unit they were occupying at the Nisus Building in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Turcolas was naked from the waist down, though autopsy results showed she was not raped. Her laptop, two cellular phones and wallet were missing.

An informant said the boy, as the smallest and lightest, was the one who actually broke into Turcolas’ unit and stole the items. The boy was carrying a gun at the time, the informant said.

The suspects struck at another residence in Quezon City, but were arrested. They were released after the complainant failed to identify them. The boy told the other suspects, including the informant, that he had shot a woman in their earlier heist.

The boy and his father were arrested in their house in Marilao, Bulacan on Feb. 27. Two guns, including one police believe was used on Nicolas, were seized.

Turcolas’ laptop was recovered from a man who claimed he bought it from Santos, police said.

The minor told police he robbed Nicolas but denied shooting her.