CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, June 29 –The suspect in the gruesome killing of five family members was arrested by police operatives in his house at North Ridge Royal Subdivision, Barangay Sto. Cristo, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan Wednesday, 33 hours after the crime was committed.
Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, presented to the media suspect Carmelino Ibanes, 26, a native of Negros Occidental and resident of said barangay during a press conference held here on Thursday.
Aquino said Ibanes admitted the crimes in front of his mother and sister when he was arrested.
He said as protocol, an extra judicial confession will be taken with the aid of the suspect’s legal counsel.
The suspect also admitted committing the crimes in front of the media during the press conference, saying he was high on drugs during that time.
Aquino said that before the murder, Ibanes was in a drinking session with two friends identified only as alias Tony and alias Inggo.
After the drinking session, the trio bought “shabu” in a nearby area and consumed the hard drug.
The victims were identified as Donny, 11; Ella, 7; and Dexter, 1; their mother Estrella Dizon-Carlos, 35; and grandmother Auring, 58.
According to Aquino, Estrella and Auring were both raped before they were killed.
All the victims, including the children, sustained several stab wounds in different parts of the body.
Aquino said a witness saw the suspect with bloodied hands and shirt while he was getting out of the victim’s house.
He said the suspect will be detained at the San Jose Del Monte City Police Station.
Aquino ordered the Bulacan police to continue the investigation regarding the massacre to know if there are still other suspects involved in the crime.
As of Thursday, there are six other persons of interest the police are still investigating.
Aquino said the knife, hair and other recovered pieces of evidence from the crimes scene were turned over to the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame for examination. (Froilan E. Magtoto/PNA)
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