New twist in Malate rape-slay case

The ongoing investigation into the rape-slay of a pretty waitress took a twist yesterday following the release of a suspect earlier tagged by the police as the perpetrator.

Also yesterday, Manila police investigators, led by Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr., presented to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim two pedicab drivers as their prime suspects.

Paolo Jessie Silva, 23, of Malate, Manila, and Oscar Defensor, 40, of Paco, Manila were positively identified by two women as the persons they had seen and observed dragging and subsequently raping 18-year-old waitress Cristina Aguilar, according to Yanquiling.

Aguilar’s half-naked body, which bore multiple stab wounds, was found early morning last Saturday at the corner of Don Pedro and Arellano streets in Malate. Police said the victim had been raped.

Yanquiling said the victim’s key chain was recovered from Defensor.

Last Monday, police said they had solved the crime with the arrest of Sonny Liro, 30, a pedicab driver, of Sandejas street, Malate. However, Yanquiling said the witnesses failed to identify Liro, prompting the police to release him.

Silva and Defensor also denied their participation in the rape-slay. They said they are willing to undergo lie-detector tests to prove their innocence. — Nestor Etolle