Suspects in slay of trader named

SIBULAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines  — Two suspects in the killing of businessman Demetrio Larena III last Thursday in this town have been identified although they are still at-large.

Negros Oriental Police provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Caranza, in a press conference yesterday, identified the two as Jimmy Innocerta and a certain Misael.

Caranza said investigators got the information about the suspects from couple Jerry Innocerta and wife Espedita, caretakers of the victim's beach house in Barangay Cangmating of this town.

Jerry, brother of one of the suspects, and his wife reportedly admitted knowledge of the commission of the crime. They are now in custody of the NBI for further investigation, documentation and processing.

Jerry allegedly admitted to a police investigator that his brother, Jimmy and a certain Misael were the perpetrators in the killing of Larena.

The couple's location was traced via the cell phone recovered from the pocket of the victim. The police tried to contact them and went to Larena's beach house as part of the investigation.

Caranza said Jerry could be implicated to the crime, after he allegedly admitted to the police of his "indirect" participation of the incident by giving instructions to his brother to kill Larena. This development however has still to be verified by the police.

After collating all the information from reliable sources, it came out that the motive of the killing was personal in nature, Caranza said. (FREEMAN)