Retired judge’s death baffles cops

Police are baffled over the death of a 71-year-old retired judge who was found along with his wounded 24-year-old housemaid in a room at his residence in Binangonan, Rizal last Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Leocadio Santiago, Rizal police director, said they recovered a caliber .45 automatic pistol in the room where retired judge Percy Lopez and his housemaid, Maricel Carino, were found.

"What we are determining now is whether this is a case of suicide or homicide," Santiago told The STAR.

He admitted that the findings of scene-of-the-crime operatives (SOCO) of the Eastern Police District will help solve the case.

Santiago said the members of the Lopez family heard gunshots coming from the room of the retired judge at the second floor of their residence in Barangay Pag-asa at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

When they rushed to investigate, they saw Lopez and Carino both bloodied, Santiago said. The retired judge did not reach the Angono Medical Hospital alive.

According to Santiago, Carino claimed that Lopez committed suicide but failed to sustain her story as she talked incoherently to police probers.

Santiago said they are taking the statements of Lopez’s family members and neighbors which might help solve the case.

"We are rushing our investigation into the case," he said.