2 sets of suspects eyed in slay of Ople son-in-law

LEGAZPI CITY — The police have organized Task Force San Jose to pursue two sets of suspects believed responsible for the murder of Sen. Ople’s son-in-law at Room 413 of the Magayon Hotel last Jan. 24 here.

Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, Albay police provincial commander and head of Task Force San Jose, told The STAR yesterday that the task force is composed of the Albay provincial police, the regional police intelligence, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Crime Laboratory.

"We are pursuing two sets of suspects in the killing of Arthur San Jose," said Rafal.

Rafal said the results of the test conducted on the blood-stained evidence which were sent to the police Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame last Jan. 24 will be available soon.

"Through the DNA test conducted on the blood samples, we will be able to compare the blood character and type of the victim and the suspects," said Rafal.

Some 30 police personnel which compose the task force are pursuing all possible leads, as well as angles of the murder which he describes as "mysterious."

"As soon as we can connect all the evidence of the murder of San Jose," he added, "the investigators can start building a tight case against the suspects."

Rafal confirmed findings of a ballistic test that the two empty shells and a slug found inside Room 413 of the Magayon Hotel were those of cal. .380.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also conducting separate investigation on the murder of San Jose.

Marlon Lanuza, NBI special investigator, told The STAR that it is also checking the evidence gathered and is conducting separate investigations even outside Bicol.

Lanuza theorized that San Jose who weighed from 185 to 190 lbs and stands five feet and seven inches could have fought with his assailants as evidenced by the slug of a cal. .380 which was stucked at the ceiling of the hotel room.

"He could have grappled with his assailants which resulted in the gunfire directed at the ceiling before he was overpowered and shot," said Lanuza.

Probers said San Jose, 47, checked in at 5:45 p.m. last Jan. 22 at the Magayon Hotel using the name Jules Martinez. His real identity was discovered after police recovered his wallet containing P1,500 and ATM card.