7 Novaliches massacre suspects face charges

The National Bureau of Investigation is readying criminal charges against seven suspects, including a Manila policeman, in the massacre of five people in Novaliches, Quezon City, last month.

NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco said that charges of multiple murder are being readied in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against Erid Salonga, 32, an electrician; Clarito "Butch" Sy Jr., 33, a tricycle driver and his brother Armando Sy, 36, jeepney driver, all of Interior II Jose Abad Santos St., Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches, Quezon City; Senior Inspector Alexander Navarette, of the Western Police District Station 1; Gerald Protez; Bobet Nieto and Romeo "Buboy" Francisco.

Salonga, Clarito Sy and Armando were arrested last Monday by the NBI. Portez, Nieto and Francisco remain at large while Navarette is set to be surrendered by his superiors to the NBI.

Navarette earlier surrendered to the Central Police District after being tagged by witnesses as allegedly one of those responsible for the death of Lauro Adolfo, 56, businessman; Eufemio Barcelona, 56; Rudy Fuentes, 57; Virgilio Santiago, 52; and Maria Luisa Untalan, 47; on the night of June 12 during a birthday party at the house of the Sy brothers.

First to be nabbed was Salonga who was arrested by NBI agents in his house in Novaliches. Under questioning, he identified the other suspects in the case. Clarito Sy was arrested in Quezon province while his brother Armando was nabbed in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.

According to the NBI, the incident took place at about 8:30 p.m. at the house of the Sy brothers on Jose Abad Santos street in Sta. Lucia. Clarito Sy was celebrating his birthday with Navarette and other guests, when he invited Untalan and her male friends to join them.

During the drinking spree, Navarette allegedly had an argument with one of the victims. At the height of their argument, the suspects and other guests pulled out firearms and bladed weapons and attacked the victims, who by then were all reportedly drunk.

Adolfo, Barcelona, Fuentes, Santiago, and Untalan all suffered bullet wounds in the head and body. Untalan reportedly died before she reached the hospital.

Meanwhile, a 41-year-old male ex-convict may have to spend his remaining years in jail after he was arrested for allegedly raping his 15-year-old niece.

Eric Rivera, married, a mason, of 1045 Algeciras st., Sampaloc also suffered the wrath of his enraged relatives after they learned of his crime. He was beaten black and blue by angry relatives before they turned him over to the police.

Investigation conducted by SPO2 Lily Olayres showed Rivera first raped his out-of-school niece last April 12 at his residence by inviting the victim to his room. Once inside, the suspect reportedly pointed a knife at the victim and succeeded in sexually abusing her. The victim said she was threatened by Rivera not to tell anybody of what happened to her.

Olayres said the second rape happened on June 18 when the suspect brought the victim to a nearby motel and had sex with her at knifepoint.

After the second rape, the victim revealed her ordeal to her aunt. During investigation, the suspect claimed he and the victim were having an affair and that the girl willingly gave herself to him. The suspect even offered to marry his niece.

Charges of rape and grave threats were filed against Rivera. – Nestor Etolle