5 charged for robbing, killing Japanese engineer

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Five men were charged here yesterday for robbing and killing a Japanese engineer who was on his way to visit his Filipina girlfriend in Nueva Ecija last Monday night.

Superintendent Fitz Macariola, police chief of San Miguel, Bulacan, identified three of the suspects as Bartolome Alvaro, his brother-in-law Armand Lubong, and Junior Casano. The two others, a certain Kalbo and Denden, are now being hunted down.

Citing investigation reports, Macariola said Alvaro picked up 60-year-old Katsushige Fujinaga at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday night and was to drive him to Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija to meet with his girlfriend.

However, upon reaching the Daang Maharlika Highway in Barangay Sacdalan, San Miguel town, the Japanese engineer and Alvaro were robbed by four men riding a tricycle at around 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fujinaga refused to give his bag containing cash and other valuables and was stabbed dead.

According to Macariola, investigators became suspicious of Alvaro’s account of the circumstances leading to Fujinaga’s death. Upon further questioning, Alvaro eventually admitted his involvement in the crime and identified his cohorts.

Follow-up police operations led to the arrest of Lubong and Casano in Barangay Tigpalas, San Miguel town. The tricycle used by the suspects, a Kawasaki Bajaj 100 CT100, with license plate 3802-DO was recovered. The vehicle had bloodstains on it.

The two suspects yielded 26 10,000 yen bills, two 5,000 yen bills, and three 1,000 yen bills, amounting to 273,000 yen, as well as P18,000 cash and $56.

Macariola said Alvaro and Lubong hatched the plan to rob Fujinaga, but not to kill him. The suspects though said everything went awry when the Japanese refused to give his bag.

Police have filed robbery and homicide charges against Alvaro, Lubong and Casano while still tracking down their two accomplices.