PNP arrests suspect in Calapan rape-slay

CALAPAN CITY – After exactly 52 days yesterday, a crack police team arrested Friday night in a remote town in Oriental Mindoro, the principal suspect in the rape-slay of a fastfood crew in this city.

Authorities believe that with the said arrest, the most controversial rape and murder case that hit here in many years is deemed solved.

In a hastily called press conference Friday, Police Superintendent Bonard Briton, Calapan City PNP chief, presented to media suspect Ronald Lingon, 19, a graduating marine engineering student and is said to be a former boyfriend of victim Hazel Macagaling, 21, of Barangay Malaya, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

In his report, Briton stated that Lingon was arrested by members of PNP “Task Force Hazel” in the suspect’s residence in Barangay Balite, Gloria municipality of said pro­vince, at about 6 p.m. This was after the special police team made sure the place and identity of the suspect was there, who happened to be a student in this capital city.

It can be recalled that in the early morning of Dec. 10 last year, residents in this city were surprised upon seeing at a secluded area in this city proper the half-naked and bloodied body of Macagaling, a store crew of Jollibee Restaurant here. 

The news of the said rape-slay case gained notoriety which shocked many people here because of the gruesome state of the lifeless body, with a total of 15 stab wounds, when discovered. The Catholic Church and the academic sector here repeatedly made public their dismay on the way the Philippine National Police here was conducting their follow-up investigations. 

Briton himself, admitted that this particular case was so dragging and so far the most challenging case he encountered in his entire police career. 

Judge Manuel C. Luna, Jr., presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 39 here, issued the said arrest warrant on Lingon, as well as the other suspect who are still at large, for rape with murder case.

The provincial police director here, Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., said the name of the other suspect has been deliberately withheld pending his arrest. The other suspect is said to be the one who acted as “lookout” when Lingon was committing the crime on Macagaling. 

City Mayor Salvador Leachon promised P20,000 to the police team who arrested the suspect, as cash incentive. 

The suspect is now detained at the Calapan City jail pending the process of the case to the RTC court here.