Officials lauded for arrest of suspect in student killing
-A A +ASaturday, March 9, 2013
ANGELES CITY -- Capas, Tarlac Mayor Antonio Rodriguez Jr. commended Friday two officials here who worked for the surrender of the suspect in the brutal murder of Danielle Louise "Danni" Huet Conde last March 2.
Rodriguez, in an exclusive interview with Sun.Star Pampanga, said he has been in constant communication with village chiefs Alberto Reyes and Nilo Malonzo since Conde’s killing, seeking their assistance in the identification and arrest of the suspect identified as Rolando Estrada, 30, of Barangay Lourdes Sur in this city.
“Job well done. I wish to extend my congratulations to kagawads (village councilmen) Reyes and Malonzo as well as barangay officials of Lourdes Sur and the cooperation extended by the City Government of Angeles and the police for the speedy resolution of the case," Rodriguez said.
The suspect, who surrendered to barangay officials, denied he was the one who stabbed to death 17-year-old victim, an engineering freshman from the Holy Angel University, inside her apartment in Barangay Santo Cristo.
Kagawads Reyes and Malonzo said the suspect surrendered “for fear of his life”, after cartographic sketches were circulated in the Internet, newspapers and TV stations.
They said Estrada was turned over to their village chief, who sought the assistance of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and the city police.
The two kagawads said they immediately Informed Capas Mayor TJ Rodriguez, who was as family friend of the victim’s family, saying Rodriguez together with Superintendent Salvador Destura, Capas police chief, rushed to Angeles City upon learning of Estrada’s surrender.
The suspect was positively identified by two witnesses as the man who went out of the victim’s apartment at the time of the slaying.
Rodriguez said he sympathizes with the family of Danni, offering his prayers and support for the speedy trial of the case.
A case of robbery with homicide has been filed by policemen against the suspect.
Rodriguez said he attended Danni’s interment Saturday, adding that he personally offered his help to her family.
“Alam natin na masakit sa isang magulang ang mawalan ng anak, tayo ay nakikiramay sa pamilyang Conde at makakaasa sila sa ating tulong," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said with the surrender and eventual arrest of the suspect, justice will be served, so the family of Danni will have peace of mind.
On the other hand, Mayor Pamintuan said the suspect is a known drug user and has a number of priors, adding that the motive of Estrada was to rob the victim.
A relative of the victim said she was happy about the development, saying "magkakaroon na po ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Danni."
"Masaya po kami kasi sumuko na ang suspect isang araw bago ang libing ng aking pamangkin (We are glad the suspect surrendered a day before my niece’s burial)," she added.
Hundreds of students and teachers from HAU attended the burial rites Saturday morning at the Sunset Memorial Park in Barangay Aranguren, Capas, Tarlac.
Conde was a varsity player of Taekwondo and the Miss Engineering and Architecture of HAU. (Chris Navarro)
Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on March 10, 2013.
Local news
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
