Police official says Jang Lucero, girlfriend personally knew those allegedly involved in stabbing

A police official on Saturday said Jang Lucero, the victim who died recently due to stabbing in Laguna, and her girlfriend knew the persons who may have been involved in the crime.

"Kilalalang kilala niya," Police Lieutenant Colonel Gene Licud, chief of the Calamba Police Station, said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV when asked if Lucero knew those who participated in the crime.

"Kilala din po," Licud replied when asked if the girlfriend of Lucero knew the persons involved.

Licud said they have already traced the identities of the three persons seen on CCTV footage who met with Lucero at a fast-food outlet and rode with her in her car. Lucero was then moonlighting as driver using her personal vehicle after she lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her body was found on Sunday night with 52 stab wounds inside her car on Bypass Road in Calamba.

Meyah Amatorio, Lucero's girlfriend, earlier said the victim told her on Sunday that she will drive three passengers from Laguna to Gil Puyat in Metro Manila. However, after several hours, Lucero was no longer answering her phone, Amatorio said.

"Dalawang lalaki po ang sumakay at isang babae. Tatlo po ang sumakay sa kanyang sasakyan," Licud said.

"May nakita po kaming CCTV footage na tumutugma doon sa sa ating theory noong una na may dalawang lalaking sumakay at isang babae. May kasunod pang isang sasakyan na isang kotse na hinihinala namin na ito ang nagbaba sa mga sumakay sa sasakyan ni Jang," he said.

"Nu'ng lumagpas na sa intersection 'yung sasakyan ni Jang, sumunod 'yung kotse," Licud said. "Tumutugma sa kotseng nagbaba sa kanilang tatlo bago sumakay."

"Bibigyan ko lang ng diin: Ang mga mukha ng mga 'yan, ang kanilang pagkatao, mga pangalan, dinadagdagan pa lamang ang aming ebidensiya para masabi na sila na nga 'yan," he said.

Licud appealed to the persons to surrender to police.

"Panawagan namin mula sa Calamba Police, mas maganda po na sumuko na lamang sila. Huwag nang hintayin na kami ang kukuha sa kanila dahil baka masaktan sila," he said.

Licud said they are preparing their evidence against the persons allegedly involved in the crime.

"May hinahanda pa tayong katibayan bago natin sila tawaging suspect," the police official clarified.

"Kilala na po namin sila pero nangangalap po kami ng mas matibay pang mga ebidensiya," he added.

Licud also said there were witnesses who saw the said persons that night.

"Meron pong nakakita. 'Di na ho artist sketch. Talagang identified na sila. Hinihintay namin na magkusang loob na sila na sumuko. Alam nila 'yan sa mga sarili nila," he said.

"Ayaw lang naming pangalanan sa ngayon dahil gusto namin airtight ang isasampang complaint sa prosecutor," Licud said.

He however said one of the persons allegedly involved in the crime is not from Laguna.

"May isang hindi taga-Laguna, sa kabilang probinsiya. 'Yung iba ay taga-Bae sila," Licud said.

He also said police are still looking for the weapon used in the crime.

"Patuloy po ang paghahanap natin sa instrumento na ginamit sa pagpatay, 'yung patalim," Licud said.

He also said they cannot release yet the plate number of the vehicle which supposedly followed the victim's car.

"Hindi pa nilalabas 'yan [ang plate number ng sasakyan] habang nagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon. In due time, very very soon, makukuha natin 'yan," Licud said.

He added that they are waiting for SOCO for information about fingerprints found inside the victim's car.

"Nasa pangangalaga ng SOCO. Hinihintay natin ang SOCO," the police official said.

As to the possible motive in the crime, Licud said: "In due time, ilalahad natin ang tagpi-tagping pangyayari."

He also urged witnesses to come forward to shed more light in the case. —KG, GMA News