DNA test results pin suspect to family massacre

CAMP GEN. SANTOS, Bulacan — The principal suspect arrested in the family massacre in San Jose del Monte City, this province, last June 28 is a positive match to the DNA samples collected by homicide investigators at the crime scene, police revealed yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr., Bulacan police director, said that two weeks after the vaginal and buccal swabs, hair strands, and fingernails found at the crime scene were submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory, the results came out to match the DNA of 26-year-old suspect Carmelino N. Ibañez, alias “Miling.”

It will be recalled that at day after the stab-riddled bodies of Auring Dizon, 58; her daughter Estrella Dizon-Carlos; and Estrella’s children Donnie, 11; Ella, 5; and Dexter Jr., 1, were found at their residence in North Ridge Royal Subdivision, San Jose Del Monte City, Ibañez confessed to the killings and even the rape of the two women.

While owning up to all five murders, Ibañez’ story changed when interviewed by media, mentioning an alias “Inggo” – later identified by police as Rolando Pacinos – and alias “Tony” (Anthony Garcia) as his cohorts in the crime.

Pacinos and Garcia were tagged by police as “persons of interest” in the case, investigated, and then released. Days later, both ended up dead in separate places in what police said could be the result of vigilante attacks.

Ibañez has since changed his testimony, telling media last July 7 that he did not commit the crime and was only tortured by police to execute a confession even though there were no visible marks of any injuries that he claimed he sustained.

A third person of interest tipped off by concerned citizens – Roosevelt Sorema, alias “Ponga” – also ended up being shot dead by unidentified assailants.

Meanwhile, a fourth person of interest, Alvin Mabesa, was abducted the other week and has not yet been found.

Caramat said that although Ibañez has recanted his previous admission of participation in the family massacre, the DNA results that came out will “definitely pin him down on multiple murder charges.”

Ibañez is charged with five counts of murder and two counts of rape.

Supt. Fitz Macariola, SJDM chief, said that based on the results of forensic examination, there were two knives used in the grizzly murders – one used to stab Auring, Estrella, Ella, and baby Dexter; and another knife used in stabbing Donny.

“Unfortunately we have not recovered the other knife. But this means that there were more than one perpetrator in the crime,” Macariola said.