4 suspects in Cavite massacre in police custody

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Police yesterday considered “solved” the massacre of three persons in Kawit, Cavite last week following the arrest of two key suspects, including the alleged mastermind, and the surrender of their two cohorts.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Nemenzo, regional director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said his men led by Chief Inspector Reynaldo Magdaluyo arrested alleged mastermind Ricardo Chavez Jr. and his suspected accomplice, Rodel Villasquez, in Barangay Zapote, Bacoor town last Saturday.

Nemenzo said Chavez was tagged as the brains in the killing of his cousin, Cristy Chavez Saromo, 36, her fiancé Edgar Zerida, and niece Dennis Chavez.

The victims had multiple stab wounds and their heads were wrapped with duct tape when their bodies were discovered in their residence in Barangay Binakayan, Kawit.

Magdaluyo said it was Chavez’s father who disclosed to probers the safehouse of his son.

Nemenzo said two other suspects, Annibal Hernandez and Raffy Ampisao, gave themselves up to police after the arrest of Chavez and Villasquez.

Nemenzo said the four suspects owned up to the crime and were charged with robbery with multiple murders.

“The mastermind (Chavez) was allegedly borrowing cash amounting to P20,000 from her cousin Cristy but she refused, while Cristy’s fiancé Edgar scolded him,” Nemenzo told The STAR.

He said the three victims could have been dead for four days before the crime was discovered on the night of Feb. 2.

All of the suspects were intoxicated and high on illegal drugs when they committed the crime, Nemenzo said.