Suspect in Quezon slays charged

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Police formally filed criminal charges yesterday against the suspect in the killing of three Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees and wounding of four others in Quezon last Friday night.

Chief Superintendent James Melad, Calabarzon police director, said charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated and attempted murder were filed against Rommel Rocete before the prosecutor’s office in Mulanay town.

Melad said Rocete, a former taekwondo instructor at the Regional Training Service Region-4 at Camp Nakar in Quezon, was arrested in his hideout last Monday in Barangay 3, Malunay town.

Senior Superintendent Valeriano de Leon, Quezon police director, said Rocete waived his right during the inquest proceeding and is now detained at the Quezon provincial jail.

Rocete has reportedly owned up to the crime, saying he was drunk when he committed it.

Two witnesses positively identified Rocete as the one who shot dead DPWH employees Roland Monterey, 28; Jason Rodelas; and Celso Red, 24, Melad said.

Those wounded are still recuperating at the Bondoc Peninsula District Hospital.

Prior to Rocete’s arrest, Quezon Gov. David Suarez and third district Rep. Danilo Suarez offered P100,000 each as reward for the arrest of the gunman.

Rocete told police he shot the victims’ L-300 van because he was annoyed that they parked it near a store without switching off the headlights.