Puerto Princesa massacre suspect nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a former helper, believed to be behind the massacre of retired Navy Lt. Commander Ernesto Paiton, his wife, daughter and two other relatives in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Aug. 9.

Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said local police apprehended Florencio Magada, 37, after his description matched the information given by witnesses.

“Elements of Special Investigation Task Group picked up Magada for questioning on Paiton killings,” said Cruz.

In a police lineup, the suspect was positively identified by a witness as the one fleeing the crime scene wearing a blue jacket and bloodied pants. Police recovered the blue jacket in the possession of the suspect.

Police also recovered a khaki belt bag, bull cap, infant shirt with bloodstain, a bloodstained white t-shirt and two bolos measuring 23.4 inches and 21.7 inches.

Investigators will ask the Scene of the Crime Operatives to get a swab from the bolo to check the presence of the blood of the victims.

Cruz said other corroborative evidences are being gathered for filing of the case in court for five counts of murder for the killing of Paiton, 59; his wife, Chief Petty Officer Carmelita, 55; their daughter Erlita, 21; niece Sharon Cabatuan, 19; and nephew Renato Cabatuan, 17.

In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Caesar Daniel Miranda, Puerto Princesa City police chief, said Magada was arrested in his house in Barangay Bacungan, also in Puerto Princesa at around 2 a.m. yesterday morning.

Aside from the massacre, Miranda said Magada has two standing warrants of arrest for rape in relation with Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law, which also took place in the city. The warrant was issued by Judge Jose Bayani Usman issued on Oct. 14, 2009.

Miranda noted that they are still verifying if Magada committed the crime alone or with an accomplice, including the driver of the tricycle he used when he escaped.

Cruz said the suspect used to work as a caretaker of the farm of Paiton in Barangay Bacungan, for six years but was terminated last year for still unknown reason.

“Since then he got angry with the victims. There was also information that the suspect was seen sharpening his bolo,” he added.

For its part, the Philippine Navy welcomed the arrest of the suspect behind last Monday’s massacre in Puerto Princesa.

“The Philippine Navy led by its Flag Officer-in-Command Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez is comforted by the report that the suspect was already apprehended by the police,” Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a text message.

He said the murder of the Paiton couple and three others was “gruesome” and calls for the giving of justice.

“We congratulate the members of the team led by the PNP for the immediate resolution of the crime by bringing the purported killer to the bar of justice,” Arevalo said. – With Alexis Romero