Rape-slay suspect admits holding victim’s cell phone

The prime suspect in the rape-slay of bank employee Mabel Cama last Nov. 12 has admitted to holding the victim’s cell phone, Pasig City police chief investigator Roberto Garcia said yesterday.

This admission, according to Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, made the case against suspect Randy Oavenada stronger, especially after the EPD crime laboratory found matching fingerprint marks on the phone and linoleum used to wrap Cama’s body.

He also directed Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr. to secure the suspect’s admission in writing.

Rape and homicide charges were filed against Oavenada, a truck driver, before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office. But Sapitula said the suspect continued to deny any hand in the rape and kill- ing of the 22-year-old Cama.

He added that Oavenada insisted that two other persons could have attacked Cama, killed her and later set her body on fire.

The Pasig City police already held the two for questioning and subjected them to paraffin tests to determine whether their fingerprints matched those found at the crime scene.

Sapitula refused to name the two pending the result of the investigation.

The EPD crime laboratory recovered five aluminum foils at the crime scene but Oavenada refused to confirm he was among those who sniffed shabu inside the abandoned office where Cama’s body was found last Nov. 12. Investigators also found her underwear and shorts near her body.

Crime lab chief Isidro Cariño said Cama died of traumatic injuries in the head.