Karen Montebon killing: Cops pursuing 3rd suspect

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities are pursuing a third suspect in the killing of a student in Lapu-Lapu City last Tuesday after two teams of the city police failed to arrest live-in partners identified by an informant.

Lapu-Lapu Police chief, Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, said “the pursuit was purely based on connecting circumstantial evidence.”

Two teams were fielded earlier – one to Bohol and another to Consolacion, Cebu – following the case conference last Thursday but the two operations were unsuccessful.

Radoc disclosed, though, that he was able to speak with the two suspects through phone and both denied any involvement in the killing of accountancy student Karen Kaye Montebon, 17.

He was able to convince them to appear before the police office to show good faith if indeed they have nothing to do with the crime.

At around 3 p.m. yesterday, the 50-year-old male suspect, from Consolacion showed up. The female suspect, a resident of Bohol, was expected to arrive in Cebu last night.

“Yes (he went here) to clear his name, but we will still conduct a background check. Ang babaye, gikuha na sa atong tawo ganina. Expected nga muabot siya this evening,” Radoc said yesterday.

He said information about the third suspect came from another informant.

Also yesterday, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza directed barangay officials to check on the security systems in their area.

“I want this to be solved as early as possible,” Radaza said.

Earlier, she announced a P500,000 reward for those who can point to Montebon’s killers.

Montebon, a student of the University of San Carlos, was found dead inside their house in Corinthian’s Subdivison, Sitio Suba-Masulog, Barangay Basak past 5 p.m. last Tuesday.

Her body will be laid to rest Sunday at the Mactan Memorial Garden in Barangay Marigondon.

Investigation

To strengthen investigation, a special investigation task force composed of policemen from the Mandaue City and Cebu City police offices, as well as from the Scene of the Crime Operatives and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, has been formed.

“Na ana’y order gikan sa PRO-7. It will be headed by Colonel Rey Lyndon Lawas,” Radoc said.

But the group will not be alone as the National Bureau of Investigation has also stepped into the investigation.

NBI-7 assistant director Augusto Eric Isidoro said they are conducting a separate investigation after the victim’s father and his employer requested help from the NBI.

“We are just starting from scratch. We are trying our best to gather some evidence and help solve the case. But at this moment of time, we cannot identify yet the real suspect,” Isidoro said.

Isidoro said they will collaborate with the police and ask for copies of the report from the crime scene, as well as the autopsy report.

“May team na na-create. Command case ito, meaning lahat kami involved,” he said.

“Credible naman yung sa pulis kasi sila yung nauna eh,” he added.

He said they have interviewed some witnesses who are willing to help but their statements have to be verified.

Security

In Cebu City, the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council is set to convene security agencies handling residential subdivisions, homeowners association and other stakeholders.

“In the light of what happened in Lapu-Lapu City, [the incident should serve as] a wakeup call for us since we have several subdivisions in Cebu City,” said Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the chairperson of PCAC.

The discussion will focus on ensuring client protection and safety.

“Most importantly, I am calling a meeting with PADPAO (Philippine Association Detective Protective Agency Operation)… to convene the heads of the security agencies in the city that have subdivisions as their clients,” Labella said.

The city and barangay police forces were also assembled and were directed to heighten daily patrol at subdivisions.

“I summoned the city police to be more active in roaming around especially in the subdivisions and also including the barangay tanods,” Labella said.

He said he wants to revisit a newly-approved city ordinance that requires residential subdivisions and condominiums to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at entrance and exit gates.

Labella explained that even if subdivision owners are private entities, the city government has authority over them as long as the residential subdivisions are within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.

“I believe that should be an important matter that should be discussed as to the [status] in the matter of implementing the CCTV Ordinance of Cebu City (or Ordinance 2381 enacted on January 2014,)” said Labella.

Councilor Sisinio Andales, the author of the ordinance, said earlier CCTV cameras will be an effective way to document evidence especially in criminal incidents. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento and May B. Miasco/JMO

(FREEMAN)