3 hunted for Isabela massacre

CAMP ADDURU, Tuguegarao City — Police are tracking down a couple and a driver in connection with last Saturday’s massacre of a wealthy couple and their two children and three grandchildren aged four to nine in Aurora, Isabela.

Superintendent Israel Baltazar, Aurora police chief, identified the suspects as Eddie Obarre and his wife Charita, and Ramelito Ybanez, who had worked as helpers and family driver, respectively, of couple Victorio Romero, 63, and his wife, Victoria, 60, in Barangay Bagong Tanza, Aurora town.

The Romeros, who were engaged in large-scale palay and corn trading, were killed together with their children Joy Romero-Guevarra, 36; and Hazel Bartolome, 28; and grandchildren Carmeline, nine; Cielo, seven; and Angelo, four.

The victims’ bodies bore multiple hack wounds and signs of beating. — Charlie Lagasca