Funeral parlor manager arrested for embalmer’s slay

GAPAN CITY, Philippines – A manager of a funeral parlor here was arrested Friday for allegedly masterminding the murder of one of the parlor’s embalmers.

Cherrylyn Lazaro, 33, branch manager of the St. Peter Chapel Funeral Homes, was tagged in the killing of Marty dela Cruz, 42, said Police Officer 3 Dennis Pengson of the Gapan police.

Dela Cruz was at an eatery along the Gapan-Olongapo Road in Barangay San Nicolas when he was shot at close range.

The gunman, whom witnesses described as wearing a cap and white T-shirt, fair-skinned and of medium build, fled on foot after the killing.

Dela Cruz’s companion, Rick Angelo Sarmiento, rushed him to the Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. He died two hours later while undergoing surgery.

Before he died, Dela Cruz identified Lazaro as the one who ordered the attack.

Pengson said the dispute between Lazaro and Dela Cruz was allegedly sparked by the victim’s refusal to obey the suspect’s orders.