POLICE formally filed charges against four people tagged as suspects in the killing of a Japanese national in Zamboanga City, a police official said Friday.
Police Station 7 Chief Felixberto Martinez said charges of homicide with attempted robbery, were filed to the Zamboanga City Prosecutor's Office last Monday.
Charged were Analyn Abejero, the victim's house helper, Darwin Francisco, Raymond Morales, and Mark Anthony Ramos.
Martinez said the suspects were identified by four witnesses who executed affidavits pointing to the four suspects as those who killed the Japanese national.
The victim, Tokio Miyake, 71, was killed in his rented house last May 14 at Kilometer 4 in Barangay Pasonanca, north of the city.
Miyake, who was staying in Pasonanca since 1991, died from a single stab wound in the chest.
Abejero, a stay in helper at Miyake's residence, earlier told the police that she saw two people running away when she woke up and went to check Miyake on his bedroom after hearing the victim screaming for help.
Martinez however said they have later discovered that Abejero connived with the three suspects to rob Miyake's valuables.
The suspects stabbed Miyake with an ice pick after the victim resisted them, he said.
The suspects, Martinez said, have remained at large. (Bong Garcia)