Guard, laundry boy tagged in Dagupan hotel killings

DAGUPAN CITY — Police were set to file charges of robbery with multiple murder and frustrated murder against two arrested suspects in the killing of three hotel employees and the wounding of another here at dawn of Dec. 24.

Superintendent Edgar Basbas, city police chief, and Superintendent Manuel Velasco, provincial chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), presented suspects Victor Dalisay and Junjun Romero, security guard and laundry boy, respectively, of the Floren Hotel, to the media yesterday. A manhunt is ongoing for a third suspect.

Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim, Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos regional police director, and Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima, Pangasinan police director, commended the city police and the CIDG for promptly solving the killing of room boys Jojo Calamagan and Michael Belo, and Arcyl Molano, information clerk and cashier of Floren Hotel on Rizal street here.

The suspects allegedly carted away about P44,000, including those earmarked for the hotel employees’ bonus and salaries.

Basbas said they were set to file the charges against Dalisay and Romero either yesterday afternoon or early today.

"I am glad many (people) collaborated to solve this crime fast. The police worked overtime, even sacrificing their Christmas celebration with their families (just to arrest the suspects)," Lim said.

He said he gave Basbas 72 hours to solve the case but the police arrested the suspects within just seven hours after the incident.

"I did not expect this case to be solved so soon. They (Dagupan police) should serve as an example for dedicating themselves to their duty when there is a job to be done," Bataoil said.

Purisima said the Dagupan police deserves commendation for their readiness to serve even without overtime pay.

Another room boy, Joross Adres, survived the attack. He is now in stable condition in the hospital. His testimony was consistent with the findings of the police.

Dr. Leonard Carbonnel, city health officer who conducted an autopsy on the victims’ bodies, ruled out rape in Molano’s case although she was found without her blouse on and her underwear was missing.

Police found a bloodstained piece of wood believed used in the killing. — With Cesar Ramirez