Main suspect in Laguna businesswoman's killing skips prelim probe

A ranking police official in Metro Manila who is implicated in the killing of a businesswoman in Laguna failed to show up during the Department of Justice's preliminary investigation Thursday.   Instead, Superintendent Rommel Miranda's legal counsel, Reynaldo Ruiz, attended on his behalf and insisted that his client was framed.   Miranda, former spokesman of the National Capital Region Police Office, was said to be behind the kidnapping and killing of Leah Ng, 40, last Jan. 20. Her body was found inside a septic tank in an abandoned warehouse in San Pedro, Laguna on Feb. 23.   Two other policemen — PO1s Otelio Santos Jr. and Jifford Signap — were implicated in the killing, as well as former policeman Reginal Regidor Santiago. Kidnap-for-ransom with homicide complaints have already been filed against them.   Except for Miranda, all suspects have surrendered to authorities, with Santiago even confessing to the crime and leading investigators to the location of Ng's body.   Santiago said Miranda brought Ng's body to him so he could place them inside the septic tank.   Santiago, Santos and Signap all showed up during Thursday's preliminary investigation. Santiago refused to give media interviews but his lawyer, Manuel Go, said their camp is studying if his client would be seeking government protection.   Also present in the preliminary investigation were the victim's husband Tommy and her sister Rachel Paat. The victim's relatives believed a feud over money was the motive behind the crime.   Miranda and Ng were reportedly business partners. The two also reside in the same neighborhood and have been friends for more than 17 years, according to the victim's family. - Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News