Drug deal gone sour eyed in ‘septic tank massacre’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – A man charged for last Monday’s massacre of a couple and their two sons aged 6 and 8 here denied any hand in the killing yesterday, and hinted that a drug deal gone sour had something to do with the crime.

The suspect, Arman Abuyen (not Aboyin as earlier reported), said the failure of victim Christopher Lastimosa, 34, to pay P70,000 from the sale of shabu could have led to his killing.

Lastimosa was killed along with his wife Leah, 34, and sons Christian, 8, and Chamlie, 6, and their bodies were dumped in a septic tank behind their house in Barangay Canitoan here.

Abuyen denied being involved in the killing, telling police that he merely worked as a mechanic in Lastimosa’s auto repair shop.

He also told probers that the Lastimosa residence was allegedly being used as a drug den.

Police have filed charges of multiple murder, obstruction of justice and illegal possession of illegal drugs against Abuyen, said Senior Superintendent Gerardo Rosales, city police chief.

Police earlier said Abuyen was found in possession of a piece of aluminum foil and a sachet believed to contain shabu.