San Pablo massacre suspect nabbed

MANILA, Philippines -  The prime suspect in the massacre of two Filipino-Americans and their housemaid in San Pablo City in Laguna last Sunday was arrested yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director, said Ruel Melvin Pido, 38, gave himself up peacefully inside the Five Rock Hotel in San Pablo City at about 5:20 p.m.

An informant led a police team headed by Superintendents Leo Luna and Florendo Saligao, chief of the San Pablo City police and Laguna intelligence division, respectively, to the said hotel.

Cruz said Pido would be placed under tactical interrogation at the Laguna police headquarters in Sta. Cruz town to determine his role in the slaying of Fil-Ams Zenaida Fronda, 74, her son Julius Fronda, 51, and their housemaid, a certain Laleng.

The Laguna police director said the arrest of Pido came as his relatives and local politicians were at the height of negotiating for his surrender.

 “We are waiting for the outcome of the surrender offers. Despite this, however, I have sent four dedicated teams to conduct a massive manhunt against Pido,” said Cruz in an interview. “It’s a good thing that we arrested him.”

Relatives of Pido claimed that the suspect have not showed up at their residence in San Pablo City for the past three days.

Cruz also released yesterday the photograph of Pido as he urged local residents to report his presence to the nearest police station.

Witnesses claimed Pido was the last person seen coming out of the residence of the Frondas in Barangay 11-C, San Pablo City.

The bodies of the victims were found in one of the bedrooms of the house last Sunday by Ceferino Abril, 72.

Abril asked for the help of barangay officials to enter the house of the Frondas after noticing that nobody went out of the house Sunday, which is very unusual.

Cruz said Pido, a stay-in driver of the Frondas, was sacked recently after having been caught stealing the couple’s dollar pension amounting to P19,000.

The suspect went into hiding along with this family. – With Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso