Taguig massacre suspect arrested

MANILA, Philippines - A man who shot his partner and killed his partner’s mother and two brothers last month in Taguig City was arrested at a mall in Muntinlupa City Wednesday.

Leonard Capurcos, 24, was wearing a wig and sporting a moustache when National Capital Region Police Office personnel caught him, NCRPO deputy chief for operations Chief Superintendent Juanito Vano said.

“He tried to put up a fight but surrendered peacefully when he realized that he was outnumbered,” said Vano, adding that Capurcos had a fragmentation grenade in his pants pocket.

Capurcos admitted to shooting his partner, 20-year-old Mhira Flor Rafales, in the face and killing her mother, Flordeliza, and brothers Norberto and Godofredo Jr. last Jan. 24 in the Rafales home in Upper Bicutan. Capurcos has a son by Mhira Flor.

Mhira Flor and her father, Godofredo Sr., identified Capurcos during a confrontation yesterday before Vano at the NCRPO headquarters.

“We will see to it that he spends the rest of his life behind bars to give justice to the victims,” said Vano, noting that Capurcos is also involved in the shooting of Monica Padilla last Feb. 23, 2009.

Judge Toribio Ilao Jr., of the Taguig City regional trial court, issued a warrant for Capurcos’ arrest in Padilla’s case.

Driven by jealousy

Mhira Flor said jealousy drove Capurcos to kill her mother and two brothers.

“I embraced him tightly to prevent him from shooting my mother and brothers but he opened fire at me first,” said Mhira Flor, adding that Capurcos was reeking of liquor at the time of the killing.

Chief Inspector Romeo Nino said Capurcos went into hiding with his relatives right after the incident. He said an informant tipped them off to Capurcos’ presence at a mall in Alabang.

Capurcos expressed regret for what he did and asked for Mhira Flor’s forgiveness during yesterday’s confrontation.

“He said sorry to me. But I lost three family members and I could not forgive him for that. I wanted him to be jailed for the rest of his life,” Mhira Flor said.

Godofredo Sr. said Capurcos always looks for trouble each time he is under the influence of liquor.