Couple cleared of links to Montebon’s murder

CEBU, Philippines - The couple cops pursued earlier in line with the killing of accountancy student Karen Kaye Montebon has been cleared of involvement in the crime, at least for now, said the acting director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.

Senior Supt. Armando Radoc told reporters there is no basis to continue classifying the couple as suspects.

Radoc said the woman arrived from Bohol dawn yesterday and appeared before the Lapu-Lapu Police Office to clear her name. 

“Pagpangutana nako sa iyahang involvement (sa incident), ang iyahang reaction inosente man,” Radoc said. 

The woman surrendered to a police station in Jagna, Bohol where members of the Lapu-Lapu City police fetched her and brought her to Cebu. They arrived at 3 a.m. yesterday.

 Based on interrogation, Radoc said the woman left Cebu because of personal problems.

“Naa ta’y (nakuha nga) rason (sa babaye), pero dili lang ko mudetalye because it is not related to the incident,” Radoc said.

The woman’s partner had been cleared earlier. The man also appeared before the Lapu-Lapu City police.

Both underwent standard police procedure such as having their fingerprints and photos taken.

Radoc said they showed the female suspect’s photo to witnesses at Corinthian’s Subdivision where the Montebon family lives but the validation turned out negative.

He said new information has surfaced after Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza announced a P500,000 reward for those who can point police to Montebon’s killers.

Investigators are now pursuing a third suspect.

“Actually, it’s not really a manhunt gyud.  We are consolidating the evidence. Ang atong pagkuha sa ebidensiya more on connecting circumstantial (evidence),” Radoc said. 

“It must be a continuing pursuit… and uninterrupted. Pwede pa madakop bisan wala pa ma-file ang kaso kung maka-establish ta og strong evidence. If not, i-review ang mga nakuha nga evidence ug ang accused mu-remain at-large,” Radoc said.

He said Montebon’s cellphone owned by the victim has also been reco-vered, aside from the iPad and DSLR camera.

“Ato gipadala sa cybercrime laboratory. Nakit-an nga ang mga sent messages gipang-delete. Naay sulod ang drafts messages ug naa content ang inbox,” Radoc said. 

Montebon, a student of the University of San Carlos, was found dead inside her room at their house in Corinthian’s Subdivision in Sitio Suba-Masulog, Barangay Basak last week.

She will be laid to rest at the Mactan Memorial Garden afternoon today. –/JMO (FREEMAN)