Alias Ponga, linked to Bulacan massacre, killed in San Jose Del Monte

A second person of interest in the Bulacan massacre has been killed after he was shot inside his residence in San Jose Del Monte on Wednesday.

The fatality identified as Rosevelt Sorema, alias Ponga, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital at 10:45 a.m. Nurses and doctors tried to revive him to no avail.

According to a radio dzBB report by Manny Vargas, Sorema was shot by masked gunmen who broke into his home. According to his mother Rosario, he was cooking when the gunmen barged into their home and shot him.

Sorema was said to be a brother-in-law of the arrested suspect Carmelino "Miling" Ibañes.

According to a source, Sorema was believed to have been with Ibañes, Rolando Pacinos alias Inggo, and a certain alias Tony when Auring Dizon, 53; her daughter Estrella Carlos, 35; and Estrella's children were killed inside their house in North Ridge Royale Subdivision last week. The bloodied remains of the family were found by Estrella's husband Dexter Carlos, a watchman.

Pacinos was found stabbed dead on Tuesday. with his fingers and penis chopped off. Alias Tony, meanwhile, is reportedly missing.

The group allegedly drank alcohol and had shabu before committing the dastardly crime. Ibañes has confessed to taking drugs, but has tested negative for narcotics after he was arrested.

They were allegedly two houses away from the home of the victims.

Sorema's innocence

Rosebelle Sorema, Ponga's widow and Ibañes' sister, vouched for Ponga's innocence.

"Patay na si Ponga ang asawa ko. Walang kwenta sila lahat. Walang kasalanan asawa ko. Kasama ko siya buong magdamag noon," Rosebelle said.

"Kami pa ang nagsabi sa interview sa GMA-7 na nakita namin ang kapatid ko na naliligo. Walang kasalanan ang asawa ko. Tulungan nyo kami!" she added.

In the dzBB report, Ponga's mother Rosario also denied that her son was taking drugs. —NB/JST, GMA News