Suspects in bombing of actress' house named

MANILA, Philippines – Police identified yesterday five suspects, two of them minors, in the bombing of actress Angelika de la Cruz’s house in Malabon City Saturday morning.

Chief Inspector Realito Esperida, Malabon City police investigation chief, said Romeo Salcedo, Robert Salcedo, and an alias Balat are at large while two 17-year-old boys are reportedly in the custody of city social workers. They are all residents of Barangay Longos, whose chairman is Ernesto de la Cruz, Angelika’s father.

At least three witnesses said they saw the suspects hurl explosives at De la Cruz’s house on Gen. P. Borromeo street in Barangay Longos at around 2 a.m. Saturday.

Nobody was hurt in the incident but the main gate of the house and its concrete post sustained holes and dents from the explosion.

The local police have yet to ascertain whether the case has a political link or was caused by a conflict between two groups of teenagers in the area. They are also still in the process of determining the kind of explosives used in the bombing.

“We don’t have any other update on the case for now,” Police Officer 2 Beth Molina told The STAR yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Chona Ferreras earlier said there was a street fight among teenagers in the area as they gathered for the early morning Mass before the explosion occurred.

But she said they are not discounting other possibilities as reports claimed that Angelika’s father has been receiving death threats after assuming his post last month.

Angelika also became actively involved in politics when her brother Eduard, who won as Malabon City councilor in the May elections, died in a highway accident before he could be officially proclaimed.

The actress wants to replace her brother but the case has yet to be decided and her brother’s post at the city council remained vacant.

Police identified yesterday five suspects, two of them minors, in the bombing of actress Angelika de la Cruz’s house in Malabon City Saturday morning.