The apprehension came less than eight hours after Samuel Allan Sy, 26, whose family is engaged in the construction of swimming pools; and maid Velma Seruela, 32, were murdered inside the trader’s house located at 1 Apahap street, Cadaing Village, Barangay Talipapa, Novaliches.
Sy and Seruela were found dead by the businessman’s father Armando at around 2:45 a.m last Monday.
Sy’s body was found inside his room. His hands were tied with a nylon cord looped and his body bore multiple stab wounds.
Seruela, on the other hand, was found on the sofa with the telephone cord around her neck.
Sy was reportedly busy preparing for his wedding when murdered.
The CPD-CIU received the report about the brutal slaying around 3:20 a.m. last Monday and arrested Jaime Elpidang, 26, a laborer, at around 11 a.m. of the same day following an operation at the Lucky Garden Resort in Caniogan, Malolos, Bulacan.
Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana, chief of the CPD-CIU, told The STAR that Elpidang was later positively identified by the maid’s relative who witnessed the incident.
At a CPD-CIU detention area in Camp Karingal, the young witness said Elpidang was one of two suspects who robbed and killed Sy and Seruela. The other suspect is now the subject of a manhunt by the CPD.
According to Lipana, the arrested suspect became the immediate subject of a manhunt by police after information gathered by detectives revealed that he had an argument with Sy over the latter’s puppies.
Elpidang, who was working for the Sy family, was previously reprimanded by Sy for the death of Sy’s seven dogs, all Labrador Retrievers, Lipana told The Star.
Elpidang then reportedly told a barangay tanod that if Sy ever reprimanded him again, he would kill the businessman.
Based on the witness’ story, the suspects came to the house in the morning.
The front door was opened by Seruela.
Upon stepping inside the house, one of the suspects quickly strangled the housemaid using a telephone cord. The other suspect immediately proceeded to the room of Sy.
Minutes later, the suspect from Sy’s room emerged from the room. He was carrying cash and stuffing them inside his pant’s pockets.
Lipana said the suspects were wearing masks, but removed them before leaving the house, enabling the witness to see their faces.
The suspects managed to steal assorted pieces of jewelry amounting to P700,000, cash totalling P560,000 and several checks.
Police noted that the room of Sy was in disarray with his cabinets, drawers and vault opened.