New witness surfaces in Feliciano rape-slay

A witness has come out to identify one of the suspected rapists and killers of Claudine Feliciano, a 21-year-old graduate of De La Salle University.

An informed source at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) told The STAR yesterday that the witness, who is a Makati businessman, saw the suspect park Feliciano’s car along Lapu-Lapu street at Magallanes Village in Makati on the night of March 10.

On the other hand, police sources told The STAR yesterday the suspects could be residents of Magallanes Village since Feliciano’s car was found abandoned on one of the streets at the subdivision.

Meanwhile, another source said the NBI has positively identified one of the suspects in the rape-slaying.

According to the source, the witness told investigators the suspect frequents the Ayala Alabang Town Center, where Feliciano had met two female friends before she was abducted.

NBI agents are keeping a tight watch on the suspect, hoping that he would lead them to the whereabouts of the other suspects, the source added.

Feliciano’s naked body was found in a creek at San Antonio Valley 3 in Parañaque City on the morning of March 11. Police said she was raped and beaten before being killed.

Investigation showed that Feliciano drove from her home at 227 Ferrari Drive, Camella Homes in Sucat to the Ayala Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City to meet her friends, Myra Dacanay and Tara Golez.

She later took Dacanay home to Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa, and that was the last time she was seen alive. She was not able to return home.

Police said the suspects used Feliciano’s car in an attempt to snatch another victim, who was identified as Janet Balis, 25, near the Multinational Village in Parañaque.

Balis was able to jump out of the car and shout for help as the suspects sped toward Barangay La Huerta, police added.

Police said the suspects could have been high on drugs when they abducted Feliciano and tried to snatch Balis.

Police said the suspects or one of them could have known Feliciano because her car bore no signs of resistance, and that she could have met them in a party.