Murder suspect not Contemplacion’s son

LAGUNA, Philippines – One of the four men arrested for the killing of a barangay councilman and the wounding of a mayoral bet’s driver is not a son of executed domestic helper Flor Contemplacion, as police earlier had claimed.

“We don’t know him, he’s not a family member or a relative,” Contemplacion’s daughter Russel told The STAR in a phone interview, referring to arrested suspect Romulo Contemplacion.

Russel, who works at the House of Representatives’ engineering division, said she learned about the arrest of Romulo and his three cohorts – Rudelito Enalpe Cajida, Romeo Castro and Salvador Borromeo – from her officemates.

Russel said she has three brothers – Sandrex, the eldest, who has died; and twins Jun-Jun and Joel who were sentenced to life imprisonment for drug pushing.

Romulo and his three companions were arrested in their hideout in Barangay San Diego, San Pablo City last Friday.

They were tagged in the killing of barangay councilman Rolando Acbang, who was gunned down while putting up posters of a mayoral candidate, and the wounding of Rardine Mercado.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the gun ban were filed against them last Monday.

Police said murder charges in connection with the Acbang slay would be filed against them as soon as investigators have finished gathering evidence.

Acbang’s wife Blenda, a teacher at the Balibago National High School in Sta. Rosa City, said she hopes that the four suspects are the real killers of her husband who was buried on Tuesday.