CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation-7 is zeroing in on the marital conflict as motive in the killing of lawyer Amelie Alegre in Mandaue City two weeks ago.
NBI-7 assistant director Eric Isidoro said all pieces of evidence that they have gathered point to personal angle. Isidoro said they already have the pictures of the killers but their names are yet to be identified.
He said the pictures were enhanced copies of the CCTV footage at the crime scene.
“May mga mukha na kami sa mga suspects pero hindi pa identified ‘yong mga names,” he said.
According to Isidoro, the partition of properties between the victim and her husband, Ryan Alegre, is the strongest motive that they are pursuing.
“Personal angle ang mas mabigat na motibo kasi may mga pieces of evidence… circumstantial na nagli-link,” he said in an interview.
The NBI-7 has already secured testimonies of witnesses and necessary documents that point to the marital problem of the victim as possible motive.
Isidoro said that the victim and her husband were allegedly fighting over the partition of their properties.
“Winning kasi ‘yong victim at may chance na lahat ng property ni Ryan ay makuha nang victim. May sources pa na nagsabi na ang mga property ni Ryan sa kanyang parents nasa name lang ni Ryan. Kong mawala yun, mawala din ‘yung source of livelihood nila,” he said.
These properties are located in Talisay City with two or three titles.
Isidoro said the husband used to have a BMW car from his father but it was sold by the victim.
The proceed was allegedly used by the victim to buy a brand new BMW and registered under the name of her law firm partner, lawyer Briccio Boholst, who was injured during the ambush together with one of their staff, Anthony Pino.
Isidoro said the victim registered the car under Boholst’s name so her husband would not have the right over the vehicle and that it will not be part of the property subject to partition in the ongoing annulment case between the victim and her husband.
Isidoro said that they have also information that the husband had hired someone to monitor his wife before the ambush on August 13.
Isidoro is confident that they will get the mastermind as soon as the suspects are arrested and will cooperate in the investigation.
“Gusto rin namin masolve yan kasi aside na lawyer ang pinatay, babae pa. Sunod-sunod ang patayan ng lawyers dito sa Cebu with impunity. They think they can get away from it,” he said.
Ryan’s father, Engineer Ramon Alegre Jr., earlier denied his son’s involvement in the ambush. The father appeared before the Mandaue City Police Office to clear his son’s name.
The NBI is seeking for support from the community in its effort to solve the case. — (FREEMAN)