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Friday, December 21, 2007

2 massacre suspects surrender

LEGAZPI CITY—TWO OF THE five suspects in the killing of a family of six in Camalig, Albay on Thursday night surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation here yesterday morning.

The two suspects, identified as Pedro Nopia, 36, and Romy Palivino, village watchmen of Barangay Tumpa in Camalig town, however, denied any involvement in the crime.

Nopia said they surrendered to clear their name after they were implicated while Palivino refused to make any statement to media.

Lawyer Tomas Enrile, NBI Legazpi district officer, said the suspects surrendered after an informant negotiated with their families.

Enrile clarified it was the Philippine National Police that was building up the case and that the suspects could have only chosen to surrender to the NBI because they were probably pressured by the ongoing manhunt operations by the police.

Enrile said the NBI has already stopped conducting its parallel investigation since the police have already filed multiple murder charges against the suspects yesterday.

“It is now up to the suspects if they would want to make extra-judicial statements to the NBI. We will detain them but as soon as criminal information is filed in court it will order the transfer of custody of the suspects from the NBI to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,” Enrile added.

A manhunt is now on against the brothers Pablo and Jose Nopia Jr. and Willy Nasol, who reportedly fled the Bicol region, said Chief Supt. Victor Boco, Bicol police director.

A P100,000 reward would be given to anyone who could lead authorities to three suspects, Boco added.

He said that P50,000 of the reward came from Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez and P25,000 each came from his office and the office of Camalig Mayor Rommel Muñoz.

Albay provincial police director Supt. Roque Ramirez said personal grudge could be the motive of the suspects, based on investigation reports.

Boco said the investigation was going smoothly as many witnesses in Barangay Tumpa have started to come out in the open.

An NBI report said the five suspects hacked and shot Jesus Moral, 48, his wife, Marilyn, 37, and their children Mark Kenneth, 10; Jemar Kim, 8; Jay Ar, 7; and Mark Gil, 5 inside their house at Barangay Tumpa.

Marilyn was beaten up with her skull broken, her hair cut and her right eye pierced with a sharpened bamboo spear before she was shot in the head.

Jesus, who was reported to have been drinking with the suspects before the crime happened and is known to usually dare one of the suspects to a fight, was shot in the abdomen and upper right arm.

The bodies of the victims are in the village chapel awaiting burial. Ephraim Aguilar and Niño Jesus Orbeta, Inquirer Southern Luzon

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