‘Mastermind’ in model’s murder fails bid to quash case

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court handling the case of slain model and television talent Julie Ann Rodelas has junked the motion to quash filed by one of the alleged masterminds of her murder.

In a six-page order, Judge Caridad Walse-Lutero of the Regional Trial Court Branch 223 said the warrantless arrest of Fernando Quiambao Jr. was lawful as the police were able to establish “reasonable grounds of suspicion” of his supposed participation in the crime.

The judge junked the motion of Quiambao, who said his arrest was illegal as he “had not committed… the charged felony in the presence of the arresting officer.”

Walse-Lutero noted that some of the information obtained by arresting officers have created reasonable grounds of suspicion that justified Quiambao’s warrantless arrest four days after Rodelas’ body was found.

She cited that Quiambao was caught on video buying the food that was found with Rodelas when she was discovered dead last November; the sports utility vehicle – seen by witnesses at the place of the commission of the crime – was registered in the name of Quiambao’s mother; and the statement of Rodelas’ mother that the victim was with her friend, Althea Altamirano, on the day of her abduction.

Altamirano, the other alleged mastermind, was the girlfriend of Quiambao.

During yesterday’s court hearing, Quiambao’s lawyer, Frederic Angel, said they would file an appeal.

Altamirano admitted that she agreed to her boyfriend’s plan to teach Rodelas “a lesson” for spreading rumors about her. She insisted, however, that she did not expect that Rodelas would be killed.