MANILA, Philippines - A suspect in the abduction and killing of Julie Ann Rodelas has told investigators that the model and television talent was raped twice to teach her a lesson, and was only killed because she recognized her friend’s boyfriend as one of her abductors.
Jaymar Waradje, in an affidavit he issued after his arrest, bared the details of the events he claims led to the killing.
Rodelas’ friend and fellow model, Althea Altamirano, earlier admitted that the plan was “to teach (Rodelas) a lesson” for reportedly spreading rumors that Altamirano already has two children.
Out of control
Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), has a theory on what happened. “It might have been a move that went out of control that the only way they could get out of it was to kill her,” Dela Vega said in an interview yesterday.
Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said it appeared there was no plan to kill the victim.
“(Fernando) Quiambao (Jr.) was just recognized by the victim,” Marcelo said. Quiambao is Altamirano’s boyfriend.
According to Dela Vega, the “lesson” that was going to be “taught” to Rodelas was probably just to rape her. “In her statement, Althea was pointing to that rape, claiming she never thought it would come to the point of killing her friend,” he said.
Altamirano said she told Quiambao about the “rumors” that Rodelas was “spreading.”
In his statement, Waradje even recalled the moment when they were approached by Quiambao at around 3 p.m. on Nov. 5 at their “tarimahan” on Lanao street in the Salam Mosque Compound.
He was then with Efren Talib when Quiambao sought their help regarding Altamirano’s problem, referring to Rodelas as “peste sa buhay niya (a nuisance in her life).” Waradje said they were indebted to Quiambao and so they agreed.
‘Baby, I’ll be there’
They went around until they reached a mall in Pasay City. Hours later, after eating and conducting a stakeout at the parking lot, Quiambao supposedly received a text message from Altamirano.
Quiambao supposedly said: “Okay baby, nandyan na ako (I’ll be there). Just wait a minute.”
Waradje said he and Talib dragged the victim into the Mitsubishi Montero. The plan was for them to go straight to the safehouse and so he told Quiambao: “Jay, doon tayo sa balwarte sa amin (let’s go to our turf).” Their faces were then covered.
Waradje said Rodelas, apparently recognizing Quiambao, pleaded for her life: “Arjay, Jay-Ar. Sorry.” He said this “angered” Quiambao, who accosted him for mentioning his name.
‘Please don’t’
While at the safehouse in Culiat, Talib went to a room with Rodelas, as Waradje and Quiambao waited in another room. At one point, Rodelas shouted, “Huwag po, huwag po (Please don’t, please don’t),” then fell silent.
After about 10 minutes, Altamirano called up Quiambao to tell him she was at a police station to report the abduction.
Quiambao went out and left Talib behind and a certain Bob and a certain Abdibe as “lookouts.”
Waradje then went home and fell asleep until he was awakened by Bob, who was asking why a man identified as alias Aldos was there.
When Waradje arrived there at the safehouse, it was Talib who was outside and acting as a lookout. Inside was Aldos talking to Rodelas while holding a .45 caliber pistol.
He told Aldos that they were told by Quiambao to look after Rodelas. “Binilin sa amin yan ni Jay-Ar. Wag mong pakialaman (Jay-Ar left her in our care. Don’t mess with her),” Waradje said.
Aldos, however, replied: “Ano ba problema? Ito lang ayaw nyo pa akong pagbigyan (What’s the problem? Why don’t you grant me this favor)?”
Waradje responded that they were just told to look after the woman and Aldos again answered: “Yun lang? Ako bahala doon. Itatapon nyo na rin lang pakinabangan ko muna (That’s all? I’ll take care of it. You’re going to throw her away, let me use her first).”
Last meal
Quiambao arrived with a burger meal from a fastfood restaurant. It was handed to Waradje, who knocked at the door of the room where Rodelas was kept and handed the food to the woman – a move that he said he did to inform Aldos that Quiambao was already there.
Aldos answered: “Okay na. Tapos naman na ako (It’s okay. I’m done).”
When Aldos asked them what the plan was, Talib supposedly answered: “Shoot to kill daw, sabi ni Jay-Ar.” At this point, Aldos told the victim to eat the food they had bought and that she would be brought home. The victim, apparently still unaware that she was going to be killed, begged off and said she would just eat it when she reached home.
Waradje then went home and just asked for updates from the others. He said Aldos told him he was the first to shoot the victim and Talib followed.
According to Waradje, the victim was shot in the head five times, based on the account of Aldos and Talib. Waradje only managed to blurt: “Grabe naman. Sobra naman (That’s too much).”
Rodelas was dumped in Cubao, where she was also shot at around 5 a.m.
Policemen found her clutching a plastic bag with a receipt for the purchase at the fastfood restaurant. The same receipt was what led policemen to identify and arrest Quiambao.