Bacolod ‘haciendero’ family of six, 2 maids massacred

BACOLOD CITY — In one of Negros Occidental’s most gruesome crimes in recent years, six members of a wealthy sugar milling family and their two maids were found shot and hacked to death in their residence here yesterday morning.

The 77-year-old head of the family, Carlos Rivilla Jr., was killed in the kitchen while his 76-year-old wife, Florenda, was found dead in the master’s bedroom. The Rivillas own the Ormoc Sugar Central mill in Leyte.

Their son Ben Rico, 41, and his three sons, Mark, 13; Guillermo Benrico, 11, and John Michael, 9, were found in their bedroom in an annex to the main residence on No. 24 Aguinaldo st. The children were found naked with a bullet in their heads and numerous hack wounds beside the body of their father.

Housemaid Dolores Ugatis was found slumped on the kitchen floor while family cook Ritchel Gonzales’s body was discovered in the maids’ quarters.

The main suspect is 19-year-old Ben Gallo, who worked as a houseboy for the family.

Inspector Hermilio Pasigado of the city police force said they found on the walls of Ben Rico’s room a blood-scrawled note that accused the victim of murder and abusing women.

Written on the walls from the blood of the victims were the words "F–k you B.R. and "Alam niyo marami nang pinatay tong B.R. at maraming pinaglaruan na mga babae (This guy has killed many people and victimized a lot of women)."

Ben Rico is separated from his wife, who is reportedly in the US.

Family driver Rudy Alfonso found the eight bodies as he reported to drive the family to church at 8:30 a.m. yesterday. When he entered the gate, he was surprised by Gallo, who attacked him with a sugar cane scythe.

The driver was hacked in the arms but managed to run to a neighbor’s house, owned by the Cojuangco family. He is currently being treated at the Riverside Medical Center.

The suspect, who fled after the attack, is now the subject of a massive manhunt by police. Investigators said at least three people were likely involved in the massacre.

Pasigado said they found in Gallo’s quarters a bag containing a caliber .45 pistol that belonged to the murdered family, a Rolex watch, a cellular phone, a wedding ring, assorted jewelry, a Bible and the suspect’s "Jeep ni Erap" identification card.

Pasigado said the blood-scrawled note spoke of vengeance but may be an attempt to mislead police.