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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Tan sons face double murder and parricide
By Ruby P. Silubrico and Jay Dooma Balnig
THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) formally filed two counts of murder and parricide against the two sons of Francisco "Bobby" Tan before the City Prosecutor's Office Friday.
Charged before the office of Prosecutor Efrain Baldago were Archie, 23 and John Michael Tan, 18, both sons of Bobby with his first wife Darlene Uygongco.
Senior Superintendent Renato Gumban, Regional Chief of 6th CIDG filed the charges.
The charges sheet states that on January 9, 2006 at about 3:45 a.m., "Bobby" Tan, his wife Cynthia and daughter Katherine, were found dead on the second floor of their residence in M.H. Del Pilar, Molo.
The victims were estimated to have died between the period and time of 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. of January 8.
They suffered multiple wounds inflicted by two kinds of knives and possibly done by two assailants.
It stated that the assailants were familiar with the area where the crime was committed and the suspects were seen to have left their residence in the morning of January 9.
The evidence has established the fact that they were physically present at the place where the incident happened.
Inconsistencies
Gumban added that there were several inconsistencies in the statements of the afore-named suspects during interview and it was observed that their reactions over the death of the victims could not be considered as normal.
In fact, it seems that the aforesaid suspects had pre-knowledge of the incident.
These were based on several affidavits of witnesses, most of them are Philippine National Police (PNP) members who were not present during the commission of crime.
Included were the statement of SPO4 Nelson Alacre, PNP detailed security to "Bobby" Tan who responded to the crime scene after he was informed of the incident; J. Vini Gulmalico, former security guard in the Tan family mansion and several police officers who responded to the crime scene after the discovery of the victims' bodies.
Circumstantial pieces of evidence
City Police Director, Senior Superintendent Norlito Bautista, said they found it hard to file the case because of the circumstantial pieces of evidence but "we have probable cause."
"Though we only have circumstantial pieces of evidence, we believe that this will prosper as we continue our investigation and evidence gathering," Gumban said.
Well-planned, motive
Gumban considered the crime as well planned and well done.
In fact, he alleged, the suspects planned it inside and outside the compound but he couldn't establish the motive yet.
However, one allegation was that Archie lost a bet in an NBA basketball match and when he approached his father for the amount, the latter refused to give it to him.
But tan's counsel, lawyer Leonardi Jiz denied this, adding that Archie has enough money in his bank account.
Testimonies
Ramel Lobereza, a security guard and lone witness of the ins and outs of the two suspects, executed supplemental affidavit two days after executing his first affidavit stating that from the period of 8:35 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. of the said date, several other persons were also present inside the mansion.
He was referring to the blind masseurs, "Borge" assisted by his assistant, "Miguel" who went inside the mansion at around 8:35 p.m. and another masseur, a certain "Milet" entered the mansion duly assisted by her husband to massage his employer's first cousin, Inday Shirley.
Gulmatico, formerly a security guard of the Tans and whom Bobby's aunt, Conchita pointed to as her suspect, is now a witness.
He revealed that while he was assigned at the Tans' residence, in one instance, Archie told him that he is fond of gambling, especially in basketball and that he collects knives. Gulmatico said Archie has a collection in his mini gym.
"He told me that he likes to collects knives. He even showed me the picture of his collections through his cellphone," Gulmatico said.
He added that Archie told him he used marijuana, especially when he went to Boracay with his peers.
Gulmatico said Archie asked for some 12-guage shotgun bullets from him because his friends bought the said gun but won't give him any bullets.
He added that Bobby scolded Archie for sneaking out during nighttime.
Welcome
Meanwhile, Jiz said he welcomes the charges filed against his clients so that the case will be investigated.
He said the outcome of the investigation would depend on the prosecution.
"We will follow the court order whatever that is," Jiz said.
Earlier, Conchita disclosed that she believes that no one from her family can commit such crime and that Archie and John Michael denied killing their father.
Autopsy results
Dr. Owen Lebaquin, medico-legal of the Police Regional Office in Visayas Region Crime Laboratory, said that the victims may have been killed between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
This was based on the undigested food found inside the stomach of Cynthia Marie and Kathy. Lebaquin said that food is normally digested after four hours.
He also based this from the sworn statement of the house helpers that they ate at 7 p.m. They also stated that Bobby Tan didn't have dinner, which Lebaquin confirmed based on the absence of food in Bobby's stomach.
However, the maids' statement also revealed that they saw Bobby at 10 p.m.
"If we believe the house helper's statement, in that case, the victims may have been killed anytime between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. of January 8. I don't think they were killed after that," Lebaquin said.
Blackout
Lebaquin, in a radio interview Friday, revealed that he was advised by the family not to reveal the results of the autopsy.
A news blackout was also urged, Lebaquin said.
However, Police Regional Office Director for Western Visayas Doroteo Reyes gave orders to release information to the media.
Anger, rage
Lebaquin also confirmed that of Bobby's seven stab wounds, one was fatal.
He said that most of the fatal wounds were on Cynthia.
"The anger or rage was there. In fact, she was even stabbed on her back," Lebaquin said.
Prosecutor
Chief City Prosecutor Efraim Baldago, who considers the said case as highly sensationalized, did not wait for the regular Monday raffle of cases among assistant prosecutors.
He immediately assigned the case to Assistant City Prosecutor Jeremy Bionat.
Bionat, in an interview claimed that he already sent the subpoena to the suspects addressed to the counsel Nelia Jesusa Lingaya-Gonzales, giving the them 10 days to answer the charges.
"The 10-day period automatically starts now, (January 13)" says Baldago in an interview.
Hold departure order
Meanwhile, in a radio interview with Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., he vowed to take action on the matter of the issuance of a Hold Departure Order against the suspects.
Gonzalez also warned a certain lawyer not to intervene with the police work as he will file "Obstruction of Justice" should the situation warrants.
Confidence
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas expressed confidence with the ability of the police in screening the Tan massacre.
"The police conducted an investigation and that investigation I believe is thorough," he said.
Trenas refused to give the slightest suspicion he has on the case.
He said the suspects are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
The mayor remains firm in his opinion that the incident was an isolated case and should not backlash in the business sector.
Earlier, Felipe Uygongco, chairman of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, claimed that the killing is alarming considering that this is already the second incident were a Chinese businessman was discovered laying in bed, murdered.
The first was when the owner of Majestic Plaza and Primeco, Serafin Wong, was found dead in his bedroom with a gunshot wound in the head.
Wong, commonly known to his associates as "Apin", was killed in his room at the upper floor of his business-residential establishment in J. De Leon Street, City Proper two years ago.
The said killing was unsolved as the family refused to cooperate with authorities. The family declared that he committed suicide. (With reports from KVC and LABB)
(January 14, 2006 issue)
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