Arrested by the NBI-National Capital Region agents headed by Edmund Arugay were Inspector Alexander Navarette, detailed with the Lopez, Tondo police station (Station 1) of the Western Police District; Alberto Nieto, and Gerald Portez. The NBI agents were armed with a warrant issued by National Capital Region Judge Theresa Yadao.
According to the NBI, Navarette, of 38 Pines St., West Fairview, Quezon City; Nieto and Portez were arrested at about 11 p.m. yesterday in Nieto’s house at 55 C-Quezon St., Tondo. The suspects are now detained at the office of the NBI-NCR.
It can be recalled that the suspects were tagged by witnesses as responsible for the death of Lauro Adolfo, 56, businessman, Eufenio Barcelona, 56, Rudy Fuentes, 57, Virgilio Santiago, 52, and Maria Luisa Untalan, 47.
Multiple homicide charges were earlier filed by the NBI against the suspects before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
Also charged by the NBI for their alleged involvement in the massacre were Eric 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 street in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches, Quezon City; and Romeo "Buboy" Francisco.
Salonga, Clarito Sy and Armando were previously arrested by the NBI. Francisco, meanwhile, surrendered to the NBI after he reportedly feared for his life.
First to be arrested was Salonga who was collared 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.
The massacre took place on June 12 at about 8:30 p.m. in Sy’s house on Jose Abad Santos street in Sta. Lucia. Sy was celebrating his birthday with Navarette and other guests, when he invited Untalan and her male friends to join them.
During the drinking, Navarette allegedly had an argument with one of the victims. At the height of their argument, the suspects pulled out firearms and bladed weapons and attacked the victims, who by then were all drunk.
Adolfo, Barcelona, Fuentes, Santiago, and Untalan all suffered bullet and stab wounds in the head and body. Untalan died before reaching the hospital. – Mike Frialde