Model, boyfriend refuse to enter plea in Rodelas murder

MANILA, Philippines - A model and her boyfriend, accused of masterminding the murder of model and television talent Julie Ann Rodelas, refused to enter a plea when they were arraigned before a Quezon City court yesterday.

Judge Caridad Walse-Lutero of the Regional Trial Court Branch 223 entered a “not guilty” plea for Althea Altamirano and Fernando Quiambao Jr.

Their lawyers tried to block the arraignment through a motion to quash the case, saying their clients were arrested without a warrant. Lutero, however, decided to push through with the arraignment, noting that the probable cause for the case was already determined.

Another suspect, Jaymar Waradje, entered a not guilty plea on the murder charges filed against him.

Waradje, who earlier expressed his willingness to be a state witness, has admitted his participation in the abduction of Rodelas but insisted that he was not involved in her killing.

Prosecution lawyer Pete Principe said they are gathering the necessary documents to turn Waradje into a state witness.

Meanwhile, Gelen Pasawilan was not arraigned on the charges of illegal possession of firearms due to incomplete information on the charge sheet.

Police earlier said that Pasawilan was not involved in the murder of Rodelas. He and Waradje were arrested in a follow-up operation in Culiat, Quezon City on Nov. 11 following the arrest of Quiambao and Altamirano the day before.

Altamirano and Quiambao were arrested in Pampanga after investigators established Quiambao’s involvement in the murder using a receipt recovered from the body of the victim. A surveillance video from a fastfood restaurant in Manila showed Quiambao buying food during the time printed on the receipt.

On Nov. 6, Rodelas was abducted while she was with Altamirano near the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Hours later, she was shot dead and pushed from a sport utility vehicle in Cubao, Quezon City.

Altamirano already admitted that she agreed to her boyfriend’s plan to teach Rodelas “a lesson” for spreading rumors about her. She insisted, however, that she did not expect that Rodelas would be killed.

The court scheduled the first hearing on Feb. 12, 2013 following a preliminary conference and a pre-trial yesterday.

Police are looking for two other suspects, Efren Talib and an alias Aldos, whom Waradje said were the ones who raped and killed Rodelas, reportedly upon Quiambao’s orders.