The founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Monday reiterated their call for the reimposition of the death penalty in the country.
VACC chairman Dante Jimenez, whose brother was murdered during the 1990s by drug lords, called for the death penalty’s reimposition when asked to comment on the Bulacan massacre, saying the three “persons of interest” tagged by principal suspect Carmelino Ibañez, a construction worker, were killed by unknown suspects. A fourth “person of interest” has gone missing.
Jimenez said that there are so many killings now in the country because suspects do not fear the law since there is no death penalty.
“Do you know why there are so many killings now? Everyday, because there is no death penalty. The legislative is ‘super bagal.’ How many massacres do you want to see in this country? How many killings now?,” said Jimenez.
“Many have lost faith in the justice system. In 2006, do you remember [President] Gloria Macapagal Arroyo removed the death penalty. It’s now 2017, is there a change? We are advocates of the death penalty,” he added.
Jimenez also said the Bulacan massacre is somewhat “similar”but also not the same, as the Vizconde massacre, due to the several changes of suspects.
“There is a similarity. But not the same [to the Vizconde massacre]. Latest on Ibañez, the principal suspect, is that the DNA test is positive. It will now change the color [of the case],” said Jimenez who spoke during the Samahang Plaridel, Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
“The three persons of interests were killed since Ibañez mentioned something. But take note, they are just persons of interests. Question. Who killed them? [the persons of interest]. There are several interested parties here. Sympathizers, victims’ relatives, neighbors, vigilantes. Vigilante groups usually contact family members and ask them if they want to solve the case right away,” said Jimenez. Sandy Araneta
“This kind of massacre will take seven to ten years. Due to the length of time, families’ costs could run to about P500,000 before the crime is solved,” said Jimenez.
“Tell me now, if you were the father, you were the relative, or sympathizers, what are you going to do? It will take years. Look at the Maguindanao massacre. 2009 up to now, there is no justice yet. That is Philippine justice,” he said.
Jimenez also attacked the administration of Duterte who he said uses the media in bragging about solving the case right away. “Case is solved in 33 hours,” said Jimenez, quoting a police official.
But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman (LP), during the same forum, said he does not support the call for the reimposition of the death penalty.
“I just want to also tell you that the death penalty is not a solution to criminality. It will not solve the ills of the justice system, it will not reform the judicial and police administration,” said Lagman
The 26-year old Ibanez, a construction worker was identified by Senior Supt. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., acting Bulacan police director, citing a report from Supt. Fitz Macariola, San Jose Del Monte police chief.
Ibañez’s DNA was detected from samples of evidence taken from one of the five massacred family membeers.
Ibañez, who is detained at the San Jose del Monte jail, had confessed to stabbing and killing Estrella Carlos, her three children, and her mother, Auring Dizon, in their home at North Ridge Royale Subdivision. He was also accused of raping the two women.
The five victims were found dead by Carlos’ husband, Dexter Sr., a bank security guard.
But the same tests showed no DNA traces of three “persons of interest” questioned by the police.
Rolando Pacinos and Anthony Rose Garcia, who were implicated by Ibañez, were found dead on July 4 and July 8, respectively, their bodies strapped with signs that described them as drug addicts and rapists.
Rosevelt Sorema was shot and killed by armed men who broke into his house in San Jose del Monte on July 5.
A fourth person of interest, Alvin Mabesa, has been missing since June 30. The forensic report from the Philippine National Police crime laboratory in Camp Crame in QuezonCity also said that a knife recovered near Ibañez’s house was used in stabbing Auring and her grandchildren, Ella, 7, and Dexter Jr., 1, according to Caramat.
The police said they were looking for a second weapon that was used in killing Carlos’ 11-year-old son, Donnie, who had 19 stab wounds. Estrella had 42 stab wounds while Auring was stabbed 35 times.
Ella’s body bore 15 stab wounds while Dexter Jr. had five stab wounds.
The PNP crime laboratory examined vaginal and buccal swabs taken from the victims as well as hair strands and fingernail clippings taken on June 28 by forensic investigators of the Bulacan police.
The results were released days after Ibañez accused the police of coercing him to confess to the crimes during a televised interview at his jail cell.
Caramat said the results would bolster the five counts of murder and two counts of rape charges filed against Ibañez.
Earlier, Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado gathered leaders of different motorcycle riding groups in the province to inform them that he would enforce an order prohibiting motorcycle riders from concealing their faces.
Alvarado issued the order on June 5 to help discourage crimes after observing that attacks or killings involving men on motorcycles were often unsolved because the suspects wore face masks.
Caramat said men wearing face masks abducted and killed Pacinos, based on witnesses’ accounts.
Masked men were also responsible for the attack on Somera at North Ridge Royale Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Cristo, the same neighborhood where the Carlos family was murdered.
