ANGELES CITY -- United States Air Force M/Sgt. Albert Mitchell, killed by suspected serial killer Mark Dizon, was honored by his brother masons Tuesday with the symbolic Masonic Funeral Rites in accordance with his last wish.
Fellow masons from Leonard Wood Lodge 105 and senior masons from other Masonic lodges in the province paid their last respects to Mitchell who was an active member since 1989.
Fellow mason Alfrito Mah said Mitchell was known for his kindness and timidity.
He said in compliance with Mitchell's last wish of Masonic funeral rites, masons held the traditional ceremonies which lasted for almost one and a half hour.
The rites symbolize the return of man to dust from which he came, according to Mah.
In his eulogy, Rudy Mallari said that Mitchell will always be remembered by his brothers. "He has always been a person of mild manners and a person whose gentle ways of dealing with other people has left significant mark in others," Mallari said.
Mah, for his part, said that they are optimistic that justice will prevail over the killing of Mitchell.
Mitchell was killed along with his wife Janet Andrenada in their home in Hensonville Court Subdivision in Barangay Malabanias last July 22. Also killed in the said incident were house helpers Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado, and Boy Vergara.
Dizon, the prime suspect in the murder case, was arrested in San Fernando, City La Union on Tuesday. Arresting officers found a gun in Dizon's possession and discovered that the suspect had plans of joining an armed rebel group.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said though a dialogue with the suspect's father, Jun Troadio Dizon, and Reynaldo Malig, a leader of Citizens Crime Watch had ensued, it was a case of "arrest" because Dizon showed signs of resistance.
Dizon was initially charged with five counts of murder with theft relative to the killing of Mitchell.
The suspect is also being held responsible for the killing of Canadian Geoffrey Bennun and his live-in partner at the Oasis compound; and Briton James Bolton at his residence in Santa Maria Subdivision in Barangay Balibago here recently.