Suspect in Laguna 'freezer killing' nabbed

ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines  – The key suspect in the so-called “freezer killing” of two women in San Pablo City, Laguna last June 22 was arrested in San Mateo town this province Tuesday night, authorities said.

The suspect, Ben Fajardo Corpuz, 53, admitted killing his employers Leticia Lupian and Vilma Bandiola for refusing to advance his salary, which he said he “badly needed.”

Corpuz worked as an all-around helper, welder and driver in the victims’ steel chair fabrication business in San Pablo.

The victims’ bodies were found stuffed in a chest freezer in their house at the Mariflor Subdivision in Barangay Del Remedio, San Pablo City. Eyewitnesses tagged him as the one driving the victims’ missing Toyota Lucida van.

Police said Corpuz also took 300 euros and P50,000 in cash from the victims.

SPO1 Emmanuel Bueno, warrant follow-up operations officer of the San Pablo police, said Corpuz crushed the victims’ heads with a demolition hammer and hid their bodies in the chest freezer to conceal his crime.

Acting on a tip, police nabbed him in a house he rented in Barangay Uno, San Mateo town. San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante earlier had offered a P300,000 reward for his arrest.

Charges have been filed against Corpuz before the San Pablo prosecutor’s office.

Corpuz was found to have other pending arrest warrants, including one for robbery with homicide and double frustrated homicide issued by the Baloc, Nueva Ecija regional trial court in September 2008.

Corpuz is also a principal suspect in the killing a barangay tanod (watchman) in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, said Senior Superintendent Jaime Rivera, Isabela police director.

Rivera said a resident of San Mateo town recognized Corpuz in Barangay Uno after seeing his picture in a television news report. – With Ed Amoroso