Suspect in the killing of Sienes couple nabbed

SIBULAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines — Law enforcers yesterday morning arrested a 36-year-old hatchery worker who allegedly admitted killing real estate broker Mariana Sienes and her husband Enrico last week at Locsin Village in Barangay Boloc-boloc of this town.

The suspect, identified as Edwin Bodiongan Sarong, was captured by a joint team of operatives of the NBI and the Sibulan and Ayungon Police from his house at Barangay Manogtong in Ayungon town, at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

“We were informed of his location by residents. We tracked him down and arrested him there,” said Dominador Cimafranca, NBI-Dumaguete agent-in-charge.

On their way back to Sibulan, the suspect made an admission on where he kept his black t-shirt which was full of blood. He led them to a place in Tapon Norte of San Jose town where the shirt he wore on the day of the murder was recovered.

In an interview at the police station, Sarong admitted he killed the couple who were his former employers. He also took away two cellphones, P800 cash, a camera, a necklace and the Honda 125 motorcycle registered in the name of the couple's son Elmer. 

Sarong narrated that last Wednesday (July 10) he went to the house of 63-year-old Enrico and Mariana, 64, to borrow P1,000 because his live-in partner Maridel is expected to give birth this month. “Mariana refused, saying that they didn't have money, and even if they did have money, they still wouldn't lend me because I wouldn't be able to pay it,” he told The Freeman in the dialect.

An argument ensued, but this led Sarong to hammer Enrico's head and stabbed the latter who futilely tried to fight back. He also stabbed and hammered the 64-year-old Mariana dead.

Sarong repeatedly apologized to the couple's son Elmer, who came home from Bahrain after hearing news of his parents' deaths. Elmer said he could not forgive Sarong who he liked to be sentenced to death, if only the country allows such penalty.

Cimafranca said charges of murder, robbery, or carnapping will be filed against Sarong, but they  “still have to assess the matter with the prosecutor's office.” (FREEMAN)