Mabel Cama case not yet closed — NCRPO chief

The rape-slay of bank employee Mabel Cama cannot be considered closed yet despite the arrest of a suspect, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

“The case is not yet closed until all the suspects will be put behind bars,” Albayalde told reporters after he had a chance to talk with suspect Randy Oavenada.

Oavenada was charged with rape with homicide Monday morning after his fingerprints matched those lifted from the victim's phone.

Albayalde said that during his short talk with the suspect, the latter denied being involved in the crime but admitted joining a drinking spree on the night of the incident. Oavenada also named two people who was with him that night.

“Actually meron na naman siyang sinabi, ‘yung kainuman niya that night. So iba na naman yung sinasabi niya and those two na binanggit niyang pangalan would be invited sa police station,” he said.

Albayalde said he is wary of Oavenada’s statements as details in them keep changing.

“May binaggit siya kanina na iba na naman, so these are all the inconsistencies na sinasabi natin. Nung una iba ang sinasabi niya, ngayon iba na naman. Nung una matagal na daw siyang hindi nagda-drugs, ngayon na naman sabi niya two weeks ago na naman. More than two years na daw siyang gumagamit sabi niya,” he said.

Albayalde refused to give the name of the two persons mentioned by Oavenada, but said that they will be invited to the police station.

“Dalawang pangalan na hindi naging person of interest natin so ‘yung dalawang nabanggit niyang pangalan, they will be invited sa station,” he said.

Superintendent Isidro Cariño of EPD Crime Laboratory said they found other fingerprints on the linoleum near the victim's body.

“May nakitang unknown fingerprints beside the body of the victim,” he said.

Cama's father Reynaldo said he some relief with Oavenada's arrest.

“Sa ngayon nabawasan ang bigat ng kalooban ko. Sana mahuli ang iba pang may kagagawan sa krimen na ito,” he said.

“Ang katarungan kailangan, hindi ako papayag na hindi magkaroon ng matibay na hustisya na magpapaalis ng sakit ng aming kalooban,” he added.

Reynaldo said he believes that Oavenada was involved in the rape and killing of his daughter.

“Malakas ang kutob ko dahil hindi naman basta papasok ang dayo doon dahil unang una may guwardiya sa main gate,” he said.

Mabel is the fourth of Reynaldo's sixth children. — BM, GMA News