Still no suspects in Tetangco brother's killing

ANGELES CITY , Philippines  – There is still nary a suspect in the killing of a brother of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco and two companions exactly a month today.

This, as police probers have backtracked on their investigation to the day of the crime and found yet another M-16 bullet that killed one of the victims.

Senior Superintendent Wendy Rosario, head of Task Force Tetangco-Yap, told The STAR that despite testimonies from 25 people, probers have yet to identify any suspects in the killing of Tetangco’s brother Rene, businessman Florencio Yap, and Yap’s aide Dennis Guinto.

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found in Yap’s Ford Expedition van abandoned on a vacant lot in Barangay Pampanga here last June 2.

In a text message, Rosario said he ordered his men to backtrack in their investigation to the day of the killing by asking Ford personnel to scrutinize the Expedition van in the hope that this would yield more physical evidence.

“We hired experts from Ford who removed the carpets and seat covers. This enabled scene of the crime operatives to recover another slug of M-16 embedded in the seat where Guinto was,” he said. Guinto’s body was found in the vehicle’s back compartment.

“My theory is that the bullet was the one that killed Guinto,” Rosario said.

Rosario lamented that despite the P400,000 reward for information on the killers, “there has been no significant development” in the case.

“Twenty-five individuals were invited (by the police) and they voluntarily gave their statements. But their statements have not pointed to any suspect,” he said.

Among those who gave statements were former Bacolor mayor Romeo Dungca and former provincial board member Dinan Labung.

The three victims were supposed to play poker with Dungca and Labung at King’s Poker and Sports Club here, but they were killed on their way.

Rosario earlier said probers were looking into cockfighting deals gone sour or politics as possible motive for the killing.