P100,000 reward up for serial killer

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – A reward of P100,000 has been offered for the arrest of Mark Dizon, a computer technician tagged in the killing of a retired US air force and three other foreigners.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, Angeles City police director, yesterday said that the reward money was offered by the Angeles City business community.

Bautista said that businessmen were alarmed over the series of robberies and killings in Angeles City, which was why they offered a cash reward for the arrest of Mark Dizon, 28.

He said all the victims of Dizon were robbed of gadgets particularly laptops, cameras and cellular phones.

On July 12, the bodies of Geoffrey Allan Bennun and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina, were found in a state of decomposition in their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas.

They were robbed of a laptop, camera and cellular phone.

On July 16, James Bolton Porter, 51, a Briton and his live-in partner, Melissa Madarang, 22, were also found dead with gunshot wounds in their body at their residence at Sta. Maria Subdivision in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City.

And on July 22, US Air Force M/Sgt. Albert Mitchell, his wife Janet Andrenada, 53, and their house helpers Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado and Boy Vergara were found dead at Hensonville Court Subdivision in Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City.

Shells found in all the crime scenes indicated that they were killed using the same 9 mm pistol, said Bautista.

He said that the pistol was not registered under the name of Dizon.

A warrant of arrest against Dizon and Edgar Bognot dated Jan. 13, 2005 for robbery and carnapping was served by Angeles City police. Bognot was arrested on June 9, 2005, however, the case was dismissed due to non-appearance of complainant while the case against Dizon was achieved.    

He said that the Angeles City police yesterday filed charges in court, robbery with homicide against Dizon who is now reportedly hiding somewhere in Tarlac. 

In related developments, more mystery has shrouded the computer technician now being hunted by the police as the “serial killer” of foreigners and their Filipino companions in this city surfaced indicating he could have various firearms, including a powerful M-16 rifle.

Sources who asked not to be named provided The Star exclusively with several photos of suspect Dizon, 28, holding at least three varieties of short arms, including a 9 mm pistol which he allegedly used in the fatal shooting of three foreigners and five of their Filipino companions in three separate incidents this month, and an M-16.

The photos also showed Dizon displaying a .38 caliber revolver and another pistol smaller than a 9 mm.

A foreigner who asked not to be named said Dizon had been known to steal laptops and that he was believed to have copied from computers information on the financial dealings of their owners.

But some people in the foreign community, who all asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said the case of Dizon “is more complicated” than is being so far reported. They said Dizon, noted to be good-looking, had befriended foreigners in this city through his skill in repairing computers and as a reflexologist.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the filing of charges against Dizon came after pawnshop owners surrendered on Sunday a laptop, a camera, and a cellphone he stole from his second set of victims.