Saturday, March 10, 2007 Probe bureau hunts killers of Italian national By Ben Serrano Caraga correspondent
BUTUAN CITY -- Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation in Caraga are hunting down two other suspects in the gruesome killing of an Italian national who have been residing for two years in the island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte.
This developed after the lookouts of the two alleged killers--who robbed, then stabbed and hacked to death 55-year-old Italian national Paolo Tommaso Scarpa--were arrested Wednesday by NBI operatives in General Luna town.
The duo identified the two alleged killers of Scarpa.
NBI officials identified the two as 24-year-old Jose Arhente and 18-year-old Rolan Rocat, both residents of General Luna town.
The Italian national was found already in a state of decomposition last Sunday in his seaside home in Barangay Catangnan, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, which is two hours by boat from the Port of Surigao City.
NBI Deputy Director for Operations Reynaldo Esmeralda ordered the arrest of the remaining two suspects reportedly on hiding.
NBI Caraga Acting Regional Director Lauro Reyes identified the two suspects who are still at large as of press time as Boyay Teraytay and Boyet Santiago, both residents of Siargao island.
NBI Caraga Executive Officer Eric Distor said based on the testimonies of the two lookouts, who turned state witnesses, that on the early dawn of March 1, 2007, they went to the house of the Italian national.
They claimed they stayed outside the house to serve as lookouts while Boyet Santiago and Boyay Teraytay went inside the house at 2:30 a.m. of March 1.
Once inside, they heard the Italian saying "No!" followed by commotion then shouts for help. Moments later they heard the Italian gasping.
Later on, all four of them met. A friend of the two killers told the two lookouts that they got the money, watch, and necklace of the Italian national.
NBI agent Vernon Joel Firmagelino said they are now looking for the real identity of Boyay Teraytay since it was only his alias.
Firmagelino said relatives of the suspects have sent surrender feelers to the NBI and Philippine National Police team tracking them down.
"We are confident that we can arrest them," NBI Caraga Executive Officer Eric Distor said.
