2 suspects in Caloocan murders fall

MANILA, Philippines - Two men were arrested Wednesday for the murder of a seaman’s wife and their 15-year-old daughter in Caloocan City two weeks ago, officials said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Caloocan police chief, said charges of robbery with homicide were filed Wednesday afternoon before assistant prosecutor Darwin Canete against construction workers Mark Padua, 38, and Randy Daya, 33, both neighbors of victims Faith Jaena, 50, and her daughter Tessa.

Faith was stabbed at least 50 times and Tessa, a third year high school student, suffered around 30 stab wounds. Their bodies were found by Tessa’s older brother, Timothy, in their house in Palmera Spring subdivision in Barangay 173 when he got home from his night shift job at around 8 a.m. on May 12.

According to Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, Joel Mercado, 40, a welder and the victims’ neighbor, said he saw Padua and Daya drinking at the terrace of the Jaenas’ house at around 1 a.m. as he passed by after attending another neighbor’s wake.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri, who earlier offered a P200,000 reward for information that could help solve the case, personally handed over yesterday afternoon the bounty to Mercado during a press conference at the city hall. “This is our policy of assisting to resolve the case early and of providing incentives to those who cooperate with the police,” he said.

Echiverri said the suspects harbored a grudge against Faith, who ran a moneylending business, for allegedly being a “loan shark.”

According to Santos, apart from Mercado’s statement, they have evidence, including the suspects’ fingerprints, recovered at the crime scene. He also said the suspects tested positive for illegal drugs.

Lupo Jaena, 71, a retired seaman, said he could not think of a reason why Padua and Daya, who were the victims’ neighbors for the past 15 years, would kill his grandchild and daughter-in-law. He alleged that Padua and Daya are known robbers and drug users in their area.

“We have no quarrel with them but for what they did, they must suffer for it,” Lupo said.

He said his son, Troy, who is also a seaman has just arrived from abroad and was “shocked” by what happened to his family.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief said the suspects took P15,000, two cell phones, a laptop computer and assorted jewelry from the victims’ house.

He said the police also recovered a bloodied kitchen knife at the crime scene. The suspects refused to comment on the charges against them.