Taguig massacre suspect admits killing employer out of rage

The primary suspect in the brutal killing of a businesswoman and her family in Taguig City last May 28 has admitted to being the mastermind in the robbery-slay, police said yesterday.

Albert Leonor, 22, told investigators during tactical interrogation that rage and a tragic experience drove him to kill his former employer, Hayda Napura, her husband Antonio, daughter Haidi, and housemaid Tata Netis.

"Nagmakaawa ako kay Ate Hayda na makabalik sa trabaho pero hindi na niya ako tinanggap. Napakasakit nito sa akin," investigators quoted Leonor as saying.

Police said Leonor also admitted that he was the one who strangled and beheaded Napura using a butcher’s knife. The suspect said he dragged the victim’s body to the room before placing her head inside a plastic bag, which he and his cohorts later dumped into a garbage heap in Guadalupe, Makati City.

Leonor told investigators that both his father and aunt were beheaded in the past, which he said made him believe that it was fine to cut off an enemy’s head.

"Dalawang mahal ko sa buhay ang pinugutan ng ulo sa amin kaya nung nagdilim ang paningin ko, pinugutan ko ng ulo ang amo ko," he explained.

The killer also admitted that he raped the maid before killing her.

"Mataray kasi siya, kinakausap ko ng matino pero binastos ako kaya pinatay ko siya," Leonor said.

He earlier admitted participation in the killing, but only as a lookout.

During tactical interrogation, police said Leonor also pointed to his cohorts as the killers of Napura’s four-year-old daughter and husband.

It was earlier reported that Leonor was fired by Napura for being indolent and always late in reporting to work last February. At that time he was planning to wed his pregnant girlfriend.

As this developed, police arrested the fifth and final suspect in the brutal slayings.

Police chief Superintendent Ramon Reyes said the latest suspect, identified as Armando Gandas, 36, also admitted his participation.

The suspect, a former driver of the victims, was arrested near the Napura residence in Barangay Western Bicutan.

He said he carried the plastic bag containing the money, cell phones and jewelry of the victims when they fled from the crime scene.

A police task force created to solve the case earlier arrested three other suspects following a series of operations in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces last Wednesday night. Leonor led police to the suspects.

The other three suspects are Eduard Ave, 32, alias Digs; Joseph Georfo, 24, alias Jojo; and Jeffrey Prima, 18, alias Buboy. They denied taking part in the slayings.

Meanwhile, Antonio Nalagay, brother of the slain businesswoman, said they would continue searching for the head of the victim.

"My sister and her family will not find peace unless her head is found. What happened was really painful for us," Nalagay said.