Friend, boyfriend charged with Rodelas’ murder

MANILA, Philippines - Slain model Julie Ann Rodelas’ friend and fellow model Althea Altamirano and her boyfriend, Fernando Quiambao Jr., were charged with murder at the Quezon City prosecutor’s office yesterday.

Prosecutor Alessandro Jurado said he recommended the filing of murder charges against the two. Rodelas was with Altamirano when she was abducted at past midnight on Nov. 6 near the World Trade Center in Pasay City. She was later shot dead and pushed from Mitsubishi Montero, registered to Quiambao’s mother, in Cubao, Quezon City.

Altamirano admitted to agreeing to her boyfriend’s alleged plan to teach Rodelas a “lesson” but insisted that she did not expect her friend would be killed.

Another suspect in the case, Jaymar Waradje, 22, said he only helped kidnap Rodelas and that he is willing to be a state witness in the case. Police officers are still looking for Efren Talib and an alias Aldos, who Waradje claimed are the ones who actually killed Rodelas.

Jurado also recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms charges against Gelen Pasawilan, 28, who was arrested in a follow-up operation in Culiat, Quezon City that resulted in a shootout.

Police said Pasawilan and Bob Usman, who died in the shootout, were not involved in Rodelas’ abduction and murder.

Prober breaks down

As teams of policemen were awarded for the speedy resolution of Rodelas’ murder, one policeman broke down and cried as he was personally commended by the model’s brother.

Alvin Rodelas cited Police Officer 2 Jogene Hernandez, saying he was particularly kind to them during the investigation, personally accompanying them as they went home when the probe ended late in the day.

Hernandez and Senior Police Officer 1 Jaime Jimena were the investigators assigned to the case.

When National Capital Region Police Office head Director Leonardo Espina heard about it, he told Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega of his desire for Hernandez to have a “spot promotion.”

As the awarding ceremony went on, reporters covering the event noticed a police “pershing cap” being passed around.

Rodelas’ mother, Luz, was  moved to tears when Dela Vega announced they were taking up a collection to help in Rodelas’ burial.

“We heard you yesterday when you said you didn’t have enough money for the burial and so I told my officers we had to do something,” he said.  – With Reinir Padua