3rd suspect in Bulacan massacre possibly dead, ‘person of interest’ goes missing

One of the suspects in the massacre of a family in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan could possibly be dead already, while a "person of interest" in the slays has gone missing.

According to a Balitanghali report by Raffy Tima on Tuesday, the remains found near a subdivision in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan could be those of Ronald Pacinos, who was also known as Inggo.

Pacinos and an alias Tony were being considered by the police as suspects in the killings of Auring Carlos, her daughter Estrella, and three grandchildren inside their house last week.

Alias Tony was arrested and was supposed to have been subjected to a drug test last week.

Carmelino "Miling" Ibañes, nabbed prior to Tony's arrest and had confessed to the crime, claimed he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he committed the murder. Ibañes, however, later tested negative for drugs.

He also insisted to have carried out the killings all by himself, a claim being disputed by Estrella's husband Dexter Carlos, who believed several individuals could be behind the killings.

The 26-year-old construction worker had also admitted to raping Auring and Estrella after he stabbed them to death. Ibañez, however, would later deny in an extrajudicial confession ever raping the women.

Authorities said Pacinos has earlier already executed a sworn statement denying he was at the victims' residence at the time of the killings.

SPO2 Daniel Ortega, chief investigator in the massacre, however, quoted Pacinos as admitting that Ibañes, then bloodied and appearing "startled," went to his house to take a bath.

Missing

A separate report on Unang Balita by Mariz Umali, meanwhile, said a certain Alvin Mabesa, who authorities consider a "person of interest," had gone missing.

The report quoted the police as saying Mabesa was one of the men who used to fetch water near the house of the victims, just like suspect Ibañes did.

"May nakakita raw po ng tricycle, may nagsakay daw po kay Baras [Mabesa] na naka-bonnet, dalawa... Ang van po ay walang plaka. Hinahanap namin siya di namin siya makita. Hindi naman po siya kasama dito sa nangyari," said Eliza Roa, sister of Mabesa.

Meanwhile, police authorities are still waiting for the DNA test results for the tests conducted on the pieces of evidence obtained from the crime scene.

"Normally kasi 'yung tao pag-inatake 'yan, manlalaban 'yan so may mga kalmut-kalmot... So doon sa mga may nakuhang clippings na nakuha doon sa fingernail ng biktima, ang importansya nito malalaman natin talaga kung ilan at kung sino 'yung mga suspek," said Police Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, head of the Special Investigation Task Group Carlos. — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM, GMA News