Ilocos massacre suspect nabbed

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A suspect in the Saturday dawn massacre of a family of four in Vintar, Ilocos Norte is now in police custody.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin Lusad, Ilocos Norte police director, told The STAR that murder charges will be filed today against the suspect, who he refused to identify, except saying that the killing was the alleged handiwork of a son-in-law of the slain couple.

Lusad said forensic tests pointed to the suspect’s hand in the shooting of Amado Castro, his wife Marciana and their daughters Mercy and Remelyn.

The suspect, whom Lusad said bore a deep grudge against the Castros, spared Remelyn’s six-year-old son and seven-month-old daughter, who were brought to another room before the shooting spree. – Artemio Dumlao, Teddy Molina