2 more suspects in Tsinoy couple's slay surrender

MANILA, Philippines - Two more suspects in the recent kidnapping and murder of a wealthy Filipino-Chinese couple in Isabela have surrendered yesterday to the Isabela police.

In a report sent to Camp Crame, Cagayan Valley Police director, Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman identified the surrendered suspects as Arvin Guiao, 42, a businessman and a resident of Namnama in Alicia, Isabela and Robert Baccay, 38, residing at Silauan Sur in Echague, Isabela.

Villaroman said the suspects, accompanied by their lawyer, surrendered at about 10 a.m. and admitted their participation in the kidnapping for ransom and murder of rice traders Pan Xinyi also known as Lucio Pua and his wife Pan Juhua alias Rosemarie Pua and their business partner Gemma Eugenio on Sept. 6.

The victims, all residents of Alicia town in Isabela, were last seen alive in the afternoon of Sept. 6 after they went out to collect some P1.3 million for the thousands of sacks of rice and palay delivered a week earlier to palay buyer Jaylord Dimal, in neighboring Echa­gue town.

Dimal, 28, whom police said was the alleged mastermind, had also earlier surrendered to local police and denied any involvement in the victims’ abduction and murder.

Three other suspects, Eduardo Sapipi, Allan Castillo, and Ernesto Villador, have also earlier surrendered to local police.

Sapipi accused Dimal of being the mastermind behind the killing. In his confession, Sapipi claimed he and Castillo had heard gunshots from Dimal’s kitchen and then afterwards, Dimal called them inside and there, he said, he saw the Puas and Eugenio already dead.

Sapipi also confessed that Dimal allegedly ordered them to bring the Puas’ Honda CRV to Santiago City and abandon it at the back of the De Vera Hospital, adding that he was also allegedly ordered to accompany one Michael Miranda in looking for drums to contain the victims’ bodies.