Ex-maid faces 'gift bomb' slay raps

MANILA, Philippines –  Murder and frustrated murder charges will be filed today against a woman who allegedly delivered a gift-wrapped bomb that killed a housewife in Taguig City one month ago.

Senior Superintendent Federico Castro Jr. said they will withhold the woman’s name until she is charged for “being an accessory to the crime” before the Taguig City prosecutor’s office. He said the woman was a former housemaid of victim Yvonne Chua’s family.

Chua’s husband, Vinzon, will stand as the main complainant, said Castro, head of Task Group Mahogany, which was formed to investigate the killing.

Castro said they tracked down the woman in Famy, Laguna. She was accompanied by her father when she gave her testimony at the headquarters of Southern Police District in Taguig City. She was later released.

The woman denied involvement in Chua’s killing but Castro said the identification of the security guard who received the package from her on Dec. 28, 2010 “will prevail” over her denial.

”She was beating around the bush. She kept telling us that she does not know how to go to Manila but when we asked her if she has worked here, she said yes,” Castro told reporters.

Castro said they are willing to place the woman under the witness protection program should she decide to admit involvement in the killing because her statement will be important in identifying the mastermind.

Authorities are still eyeing property conflict as the motive behind Chua’s killing and her mother and brother are still considered suspects by the police.

Chua, 32, was killed at her house in Mahogany Phase III, Taguig City on Dec. 29, 2010 after opening a package that contained five grenades, only one of which exploded.

The gift, signed by a certain “Mama,” was addressed to the victim and delivered to Chua’s former address in Pascor Subdivision at Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City and was picked up by the family driver.

More than a week ago, the Southern Police District (SPD) released a sketch of a woman seen delivering the gift bomb, and Taguig City police chief Senior Superintendent Tomas Apolinario said it looked “similar” to the woman who will be charged today.

Castro said frustrated murder charges will be filed against the woman because the five grenades sent to the victim could have killed her whole family.