09 November 2005
NBI to PNP: Check your suspects’ hair samples
THE National Bureau of Investigation urged its fellow investigators in the Philippine National Police to establish more definite proofs of guilt of the arrested suspects in the RTC Judge Estrellita Paas’ killing such as hair strand matching of the suspects with those found on the victim’s hands and at the crime scene.
The NBI, thru one of its agents, offered the suggestion even as many observers have noted that police investigators have yet to establish or mention any motive for the slaying despite the lapse of time between the arrest and grilling of the suspects – Elmer Cabiles , 34, a neighbor of the Paases in Natividad town and Jornald Vargas alias Boyet, 26, of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya – and their presentation to the media last October 28.
Police Provincial Director Alan LM Purisima presented the suspects to PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao during the latter’s recent visit to the province to inaugurate the newly constructed grandstand at the PNP Provincial Headquarters in Lingayen.
The NBI office based in Dagupan however clarified that in offering the suggestion, it is merely guided by the best interest of the case and the wishes of the judge’s grieving family and relatives to have the real killer or killers brought to justice.
It will be recalled that the late judge’s family members had expressed their wish to PNP Chief Lomibao when he condoled with them a few days after the killing that the case be solved soonest or that the killer and the motive be established at least before the burial.
Sr. Inspector Federico Castro of the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which unit joined the arresting team that brought in the suspects, said CIDG tagged Cabiles as a suspect because of his highly strange flight to barangay Sto. Domingo in Lupao, Nueva Ecija -- where he was eventually arrested – the day after the murder of the woman judge.
Saying Cabiles was the only one who knew the layout of the house as he lived just at the back of the Paas house and was a trusted man of retired Ombudsman Reinerio Paas and the late judge, Castro said Cabiles’ sudden departure and his going to Asingan to ask for P5,000 from his father purportedly for him to look for a job in Tarlac or Pampanga only to be found by authorities in a hideout in Lupao, rang alarm bells for investigators.
Preliminary investigation and tactical interrogation showed that Cabiles is a suspect in an earlier murder in the National Capital Region and had a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Adoracion Angeles of RTC branch 121 in Caloocan City.
In a written statement in the presence of his counsel and his immediate relatives, Cabiles tagged Vargas as the killer of Judge Paas. Vargas was arrested in barangay Capulaan, Balungao while playing with a fan knife. Frisked by the police team, a cal. 38 revolver with six live bullets was found on him.
The NBI, thru one of its agents, offered the suggestion even as many observers have noted that police investigators have yet to establish or mention any motive for the slaying despite the lapse of time between the arrest and grilling of the suspects – Elmer Cabiles , 34, a neighbor of the Paases in Natividad town and Jornald Vargas alias Boyet, 26, of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya – and their presentation to the media last October 28.
Police Provincial Director Alan LM Purisima presented the suspects to PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao during the latter’s recent visit to the province to inaugurate the newly constructed grandstand at the PNP Provincial Headquarters in Lingayen.
The NBI office based in Dagupan however clarified that in offering the suggestion, it is merely guided by the best interest of the case and the wishes of the judge’s grieving family and relatives to have the real killer or killers brought to justice.
It will be recalled that the late judge’s family members had expressed their wish to PNP Chief Lomibao when he condoled with them a few days after the killing that the case be solved soonest or that the killer and the motive be established at least before the burial.
Sr. Inspector Federico Castro of the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which unit joined the arresting team that brought in the suspects, said CIDG tagged Cabiles as a suspect because of his highly strange flight to barangay Sto. Domingo in Lupao, Nueva Ecija -- where he was eventually arrested – the day after the murder of the woman judge.
Saying Cabiles was the only one who knew the layout of the house as he lived just at the back of the Paas house and was a trusted man of retired Ombudsman Reinerio Paas and the late judge, Castro said Cabiles’ sudden departure and his going to Asingan to ask for P5,000 from his father purportedly for him to look for a job in Tarlac or Pampanga only to be found by authorities in a hideout in Lupao, rang alarm bells for investigators.
Preliminary investigation and tactical interrogation showed that Cabiles is a suspect in an earlier murder in the National Capital Region and had a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Adoracion Angeles of RTC branch 121 in Caloocan City.
In a written statement in the presence of his counsel and his immediate relatives, Cabiles tagged Vargas as the killer of Judge Paas. Vargas was arrested in barangay Capulaan, Balungao while playing with a fan knife. Frisked by the police team, a cal. 38 revolver with six live bullets was found on him.
