Suspected serial killer arrested

ANGELES CITY – The lone suspect in the robbery and murder of three foreigners and six Filipinos here was arrested Tuesday afternoon in San Fernando City in La Union province, police said.

Central Luzon police director Arturo Cadacdac Jr. said police teams from this city arrested Mark Dizon, 28, in San Fernando City around 4:10 p.m. Tuesday.

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Dizon did not resist when arrested Tuesday while talking with his father in a public square in San Fernando City, Angeles City police chief Danilo Bautista said.

Baustista said an informant helped the police trace the whereabouts of the suspect.

But Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said Dizon surrendered to police through the help of his friend, Rey Malig, who coordinated with the suspect's father.

“The father, Jun Dizon, coordinated with Mr. Malig. He was assured that the son will have a fair trial and would be given a lawyer to defend him in court,” Pamintuan said.

Recovered from the young Dizon were a .32 caliber revolver with eight bullets, a laptop computer, a cellular phone, and other personal belongings.

Dizon is the lone suspect in the robbery and murder of retired US Air Force officer Albert Mitchell, 70; his wife Janet Andrenada Mitchell, 53; and helpers Isabel Fajardo, 29; Marissa Prado, 29; and Boy Vergara in Hensonville Court Subdivision in Barangay Malabanias here in July 22.

He is also the suspect in the robbery and murder of Briton James Bolton Porter, 51; and his live-in partner Melissa Madarang, 22; who were found dead with gunshot wounds in their bodies at their residence at Sta. Maria Subdivision in Barangay Balibago here on July 16.

Police also tagged Dizon as suspect in the robbery and murder of Canadian Geoffrey Allan Bennun, 60; and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina. The couple was already in a state of decomposition when found in their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas here on July 12. They were robbed of a laptop, a camera, and a cellular phone.

Dizon allegedly later pawned some of the possessions taken from the victims, including a laptop and a cell phone, Bautista said, adding investigators have secured pawnshop records and close-circuit television camera footage showing him with the stolen objects in the shop.

Tourists and foreign nationals here earlier called for the speedy arrest of Dizon as they were alarmed with the series of killings involving foreigners.

The business community here had also dangled a P100,000 reward for the suspect's arrest.

According to a television report late Tuesday, Dizon was detained at Camp Tomas Pepito in Barangay Sto. Domingo here.

Joseph Baker, a 56-year old Briton, said that in his 15 years in Angeles City, it was only now that he has heard of a series of killings involving foreigners.

Baker said that the killings, unless resolved, would send a chilling message to foreigners in Angeles City.

“The suspect should be put to justice immediately. The cases are hard to ignore and can affect both the foreign reputation of the city. This is an isolated case but still justice should be accorded the families of the people killed, may they be Filipinos or foreigners,” Baker said.

Lyndon Seymour from Glendale, California said that he is optimistic that local officials will do their part in resolving the cases.

“This is good news to our constituents who have been worrying about the recent killings. Rest assured that the city will do its best to maintain peace and order,” Pamintuan said. (Ian Ocampo Flora of Sun.Star Pampanga/AP/Sunnex)