7 workers nabbed in trader's 'hammer' murder

MANILA, Philippines - Seven factory workers were arrested for allegedly beating Valenzuela City trader Jeffrey Ong with a hammer and slitting his throat last June 11, police said yesterday.

Ong (real name Wang Wen Xing), a native of Fujian, China and stay-in manager of Cosang Plastic Manufacturing on Sigma street, Don Pablo Subdivision in Barangay Rincon, was found dead in the factory at around 4:30 p.m. on June 11. A bloody hammer, believed to have been used in hitting Ong’s head, was recovered near his body. Police have yet to find the blade used to slit Ong’s throat.

Police found out that at least nine of Ong’s workers were nowhere to be found and their belongings were also gone. One of the workers, Isagani Sobretodo, was arrested in Caloocan City the following day.

Sobretodo reportedly admitted to the police that they planned to rob and kill their boss but denied having direct involvement in the killing, Bugay said.

Bugay said Sobretodo and the other workers became angry when on June 1, Ong announced that the company will shut down. The suspects, mostly from Davao and Leyte, asked him for “fare assistance” but he reportedly refused. On June 7, the victim told the stay-in workers to vacate their barracks.

The victim was last seen alive at about 7 p.m. on June 9 entering the Cosang Plastic compound on his motorcycle.

Information provided by Sobretodo and relatives of the other workers helped the police in tracking down the suspects in Southern Leyte and Davao and bringing them back to Valenzuela City.

A team led by Inspector Roden Tejuco, in coordination with the Leyte Provincial Police Office, was able to arrest Edgardo Sabandal Camanso Jr., Joel Epis Sabandal, Jerry Sabandal Pacaldo Jr., Nelson Sabandal, Ryan Fernandez, and Wilson Dait, all former stay-in workers.

Bugay’s team arrested Michael Andres Piedad in Davao after the suspect surrendered to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

One of the suspects, Reagan Arboneda, remains at large and is the subject of a police manhunt.

“There is no place for any crime in our city. We are firm on safeguarding the peace and order of the City and our constituents against anyone who wants to disturb it. No perpetrator of any horrible offence such as this could escape our ire. We let everyone be aware that we will not stop until each and every stone are turned, wherever they are, to find and chase the perpetrators to place them under prosecution,” Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said.