P.1-M reward up for suspects in UP hostel worker's rape-slay

MANILA, Philippines - Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri yesterday offered a P100,000 reward for the arrest of two suspects in the rape-slay of an employee of the University Hotel at the University of the Philippines’ Diliman campus Tuesday night.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief, said the mayor presented the bounty to help “speed up” the apprehension of Erick Makaraan, 18; and Erro Allid, alias Dan-Dan, 29, tagged in the rape and killing of 26-year-old Jee-ann de Guzman.

He said the suspects and the victim are residents of Barangay 178 in Camarin, where De Guzman also lived.

Jerry Manioto, who was robbed by the suspects a few minutes before they took De Guzman, identified Makaraan and Allid through police photos of suspected criminals.

Senior Inspector Ronald Perilla, chief of Sub-station 5, which has jurisdiction over the case, said the suspects, both tagged in previous robberies, still remain in Camarin and “we are closing in on them.”

Manioto was on his way to work at around 8 p.m. Tuesday when robbed by the suspects at gunpoint along Vanguard street in Barangay 178.

The suspects divested his cash and belongings. But before fleeing, the robbers stripped him of his pants, shirt, and underwear and left him at the grassy portion of the road. The suspects returned with another victim, who turned out to be De Guzman, about 30 minutes later.

Manioto said he saw the suspects undress De Guzman, hogtie her using her own brassiere, underpants and the strap of her backpack and then rape her. The suspects strangled the victim to stop her from making noises when they saw a man passing by the area.

The suspects fled and Manioto was able to free himself and seek the help of the police but when the police arrived at the crime scene, De Guzman was already dead.