6 house helpers charged with murder

DAGUPAN CITY -- Six persons were charged with murder before the City Prosecutor's Office for the killing of 80-year-old retired judge Corazon Merrera last Friday evening.

Dagupan City Police Chief Romeo Caramat Jr. said the case is considered solved after the suspects, the victim's stay-in househelp, were positively identified, arrested, and charged.

Charged with murder were driver Christian Benedict Lagatao, 20 years old, of Barangay Parayao, Binmaley; helper John-John Basa, 22, of Basing Riverside, Binmaley; helper Jeriel Cadelenia, 21, of Barangay Manhuyod, Dumaguete City; Philip Quillope, 47, of Manhuyod, Dumaguete City; and Michael de Guzman, and Jacob Mendiola, a former security guard.

The suspects were identified based on the statement given by another helper, Genny Roman.

Roman reported that last Friday, he overheard the suspects planning to rob the victim.

He said Merrera arrived home Friday evening around 7:45 p.m. She was last seen around 10 p.m. when she went downstairs.

Caramat said that based on the investigation, the victim was robbed several times in the past. Their theory is that she could have caught the suspects in the act that evening, prompting the suspects to stab her.

On Saturday afternoon, the victim's son, Roberto, was informed that his mother was missing.

Roberto, who later had to crawl through a window to get into the house, saw his mother sprawled on the floor, her blood already dried up.

Lawyer Dindo Merrera, another son of the victim, said the body of his mother now lies at their residence in Barangay Malindong in Binmaley.

The internment date has yet to be set. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)