GMA help sought on death of young Isabela Tsinoy

SANTIAGO CITY — The Filipino-Chinese community here is seeking President Arroyo’s intercession in the death of their 23-year old relative after the case seemed to be going nowhere.

The group condemned the cold-blooded murder of 23-year old Marvin John Fernandez, a scion of a rich Filipino-Chinese family here, and called on the President to intervene, fearing of a possible whitewash with the reported involvement of an influential person in the case.

Rosy Ko-Sarangaya, one of the leaders of the local Filipino-Chinese community, made the call after the prime suspect in the killing, Pepito "Pitong" Laurente, a councilor of Barangay 442, Sampaloc, Manila remains scot-free.

Sarangaya believes that there seemed to be an attempt to cover up the case, where the prime suspect is an influential member of the community. The same is also true with the suspect’s son, one PO2 Larry Laurente, whose service firearm had been established as the one used by the suspect in the murder.

Marvin was shot at pointblank range allegedly by Laurente last May 23 in Sampaloc, Manila. A 1999 commerce graduate of San Beda College, the victim was vacationing at the residence of his relatives there when he was shot dead.

He was buried last Thursday at a Chinese cemetery here.

Ernesto, the victim’s father, said that Laurente’s 9mm bullet pierced his son’s chest, causing his instant death. The incident, he said, was not even logged at the concerned police station in Barangay 442 where the suspect’s son, PO2 Laurente, is assigned.

Before the incident, Ernesto said, Laurente had an altercation with Marvin’s cousin Paul Buenavidez who was blamed for stoning the suspect’s house.

Out of pique, the allegedly drunk Laurente shot Buenavidez but the latter was able to duck. He then fired more shots which hit the fence of the Buenavidez residence. The victim, who was on the second floor of their house, rushed down to help his cousin but was met by Laurente who shot him on the chest. — Charlie Lagasca