Suspects in killing of consul’s ma arrested

MALOLOS CITY – Three persons including the alleged mastermind in the killing of the 74-year-old mother of the Philippine Consul General in Australia were arrested by Bulacan police in separate operations Wednesday.

In a press briefing at Camp General Alejo Santos here Wednesday, Bulacan police director Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo presented and identified the suspects as Rolando Villaverde y Mangahas, 26, of Barangay Sta. Ana, Bula­kan town; Ronnie Culianin y Kito, 22, and Alvin Chico y Mi­randa, 32, of Meycauayan City.

Villaverde is the primary suspect who allegedly masterminded the killing of Rosalina Parreño-Lazaro, 74, widow and mother of Teresa Lazaro, the country’s consul general in Australia. He was arrested at Barangay Pembo, Makati City Wednesday morning after hiding for almost 18 months.

The older Lazaro was killed with at least 75 stab wounds on July 12, 2006 in their house at Barangay San Jose, Bulakan town.

Bantolo said that Villaverde is the last suspect arrested for the killing and was tagged by his cohorts as the mastermind.

Other arrested suspects in the gruesome killing of Lazaro were Domingo Chico y Miranda, Abet Dela Cruz, and Dennis Bautista who allegedly died of pneumonia while in detention at the Bulacan Provincial Jail last December.

“We consider the Lazaro killing closed with the arrest of Villaverde,” Bantolo said and added that during the commission of the crime, the suspects carted two bags of valuables.

However, Villaverde, a tricycle driver, denied masterminding the robbery that turned into the killing of the 74-year-old widow, but admitted participation in the robbery.

He said that it was Abet dela Cruz who masterminded the robbery and the same person who killed Lazaro.