5 suspects fall in Cavite couple’s slay

CAMP GARCIA, Cavite — Police arrested five suspects, including two brothers, in last Sunday’s killing of a couple in Sitio Paligawan, Barangay Lumil, Silang, this province.

Chief Inspector Resty Estoril Soriano, who heads the local police, identified the suspects as Sammy C. Galarce, 20; Jerry L. de Asis, 48; Angelito L. de los Santos, 24, and his brother Charlie, 35; and Junior I. Diaz, all residents of Barangay Tartiara, Silang.

Soriano said they are now charged before Cavite Provincial Prosecutor’s Office with the murder of Lee Cerenio Mejorada and his alleged live-in partner, Marilyn G. Aban.

Citing the investigation report, Soriano said the victims were sleeping inside their house in Sitio Paligawan at 11:30 p.m. last September 3, when the suspects allegedly barged into their residence and shot them in their bed.

Homicide investigators said the two died on-the-spot from bullets fired from a .45-caliber firearm. It was still being verified whether or not Aban was pregnant.

Soriano said the suspects were pinpointed by a witness and initial investigation showed that personal grudge was the motive in the attack.

A police team arrested the five suspects in Barangay Tartiara and had traced the alleged murder weapon – a .45 cal. pistol with a magazine loaded with five bullets — at the nipa hut of a certain alias “Enchiong.”

Soriano said the suspects allegedly admitted they had kept the gun in the hut.

Follow-up operatives are now looking for one alias “Biyong,” a farmer, who they also tagged as a suspect in the couple’s killing.