Jailed suspects face new murder raps

MANILA, Philippines - Seven suspects now in jail for the killing of a policeman in Mandaluyong in 2006 have been charged again with murder for the killing of another policeman and a businessman in 2005 and 2006 in Quezon City.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said new murder charges were filed against Randy Puno, Victor Valdez, Chito Catbagan, Jobert Dumlao, Rodolfo Tiopis, Erika Tiopis and Ramonit Moralida.

Inspector Elmer Monsalve, head of the QCPD homicide investigation section, said the suspects were believed to be behind the killing of PO3 Randulf Gulferic on Dec. 5, 2005 and Eleseo Somera on April 19, 2006.

Monsalve said ballistic examination showed that the .45 caliber pistol seized from the suspects when they were arrested in 2006 for the killing of PO4 John John Justo on Nov. 16, 2006 was the same gun used in the murder of Gulferic and Somera.