Massacre suspect’s kin wants payback – witness

MANILA, Philippines - A witness in the massacre of a bank executive and her family sought the assistance of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday, saying she learned that the slain suspect’s half-brother has reportedly vowed to kill her.

Myrna Benitez, 41, the lone witness against suspect Nestor Delizalde Jr., was initially under the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section under Chief Inspector Joey de Ocampo. Fearing for her life, she decided to seek Lim’s assistance.

Benitez, who saw Delizalde climbing down a tree behind the residence of Evelyn Tan on the morning of the massacre, testified that the suspect admitted to her that he killed the bank executive, her 75-year-old mother and their 22-year-old maid when they were awakened while he was searching for items to steal in the house last Nov. 6.

Delizalde was shot dead while in police custody after he allegedly tried to grab the gun of a policeman escorting him on a follow-up operation to recover the items he stole from Tan’s house.

He has accused a barangay chairman and several watchmen of taking the items he had stolen. The items were never recovered.

Overheard

Benitez said Delizalde’s half-brother, RJ Quiambao, was at his wake and was overheard asking for her. She said one of her relatives saw Quiambao lurking in the dark near her house on Sunday night, apparently waiting for her to come out.

Records from the MPD’s warrants section show that Quiambao is wanted for two counts of robbery and frustrated murder since 2006 at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branches 29 and 14, respectively.

He was said to be hiding in Pangasinan and surfaced only after learning what happened to his half-brother. Quaimbao, according to Benitez, vowed not to return to the province until he kills her.

The Manila Social Welfare Department, under Jay dela Fuente, took custody of Benitez and took her to a safe place. Manila City Hall Action and Police Assistance (CHAPA) head Chief Inspector Rolando Lorenzo said he has coordinated with the warrant section and vowed to arrest Quiambao.

Lim’s chief of staff Ric de Guzman said the mayor issued instructions to help the witness at all cost and told Dela Fuente to take care of her until Quiambao is arrested.