By Brian Campued
The alleged mastermind in the so-called Binondo drum murder is a Chinese national, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) said Friday.
The Taiwan office issued the clarification following media reports saying that the 32-year-old suspect arrested in Parañaque City on Thursday was a Taiwanese national.
“Upon learning that the arrested individual was described in certain reports as a Taiwanese national, TECO immediately initiated verification procedures. After carefully examining the passport presented by the suspect, this Office confirms that the document is a forged Taiwanese passport,” it said.
According to TECO, one of its officers also conducted a consular verification on the suspect, who was arrested four days after dismembered remains were discovered in a drum in Binondo, Manila.
The victim was later identified as alias “Xiangyang,” a Chinese national.
“During the interview, the suspect was unable to provide a valid Taiwan national identification number and admitted that he is a Chinese national,” TECO said.
“He further confessed that he purchased the fraudulent Taiwanese passport through the Telegram application,” it added.
The Southern Police District nabbed the suspect, alias “Davao,” at a hotel along Seaside Boulevard. Authorities had also recovered the hacksaw and chopping knife believed to have been used in the murder.
It can be recalled that the Pasay police also arrested a 64-year-old man, alias “Victor”, on Wednesday, in connection with the dismemberment case.
According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), all suspects are now facing charges of murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. (with report from Ryan Lesigues / PTV News)
-jpv
