3 suspects in Santiago slay fall

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna – Authorities here arrested three suspects in the killing of top fashion designer Ernest Santiago in two separate operations in Pagsanjan, Laguna and Makati City Tuesday evening, police said.

Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr. identified the suspects as Zosimo Ragaza, Santiago’s gardener for 17 years; Alex Mosende, the victim’s alleged live-in partner for the last 28 years; and Anjo Luces, who had been the secretary of the fashion designer for the last eight years.

Mosende and Luces were subsequently released for preliminary investigation. They were told to submit their counter-affidavits within 10 days. Ragaza is detained without bail on charges of robbery with homicide.

Mosende and Luces denied the charges against them but police found probable cause that they masterminded the killing.

Rojas said Ragaza, who was arrested first in his house at Barangay Mulawin, Pagsanjan, Laguna Tuesday afternoon, admitted having knowledge of the killing and later positively identified his accomplices Mosende and Luces.

Roxas said Ragaza worked as a part-time gardener and caretaker for the victim during the daytime. He said Santiago would spend the night alone in his house.  

Pagsanjan Mayor George “ER” Ejercito told The STAR that he was able to convince Ragaza to identify his two accomplices and to turn state witness against them.

Ragaza, police said, flunked his polygraph test, prompting authorities to question his involvement in the slay case.

“I promised I will place him and his entire family in the witness protection program and I am ready to help him if he acts as a witness in this case,” Ejercito said.

Describing Santiago as a personal friend, Ejercito promised to give him justice the soonest possible time.

Meanwhile, Mosende and Luces were arrested by the Pagsanjan police when they attended the victim’s wake at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City late Tuesday evening.

Ejercito, who went along with the arresting police officers, said he also convinced Ragaza to go with them and identify Mosende and Luces during the arrest.

Santiago was found dead Sunday morning inside his home on Rizal street in Barangay Poblacion, Pagsanjan with his head bashed by a dumbbell. P200,000 was missing along with several pieces of jewelry and a mobile phone. A checkbook was also found near the victim’s body.

Probers theorized that the suspects knew the victim had cash in his house because he withdrew money from the bank a day earlier for his employees’ salaries and Christmas bonuses.