Police arrest 3 suspects in rape-slay of 26-year-old woman in Calumpit, Bulacan

Police have arrested three suspects in the gang rape and murder of a 26-year-old woman in Calumpit, Bulacan, with one of them arrested after he attended the wake for his supposed victim.

According to a report on "24 Oras" aired Monday evening, a jeepney driver and his wife attended the wake of Anria Espiritu on Monday afternoon after he received news of her death.



He said Espiritu had been his passenger last Wednesday evening. She was found dead last Thursday.

The victim's family grew suspicious of claw marks and wounds on the driver's body and police arrested him when he and his wife came back to the wake at 3 p.m., the report said.

The driver, identified as Elmer Joson, was made to take his shirt off to show the scratches and wounds, which he said he received during a fight with his wife on Monday morning.
 
But, in an earlier interview on GMA News TV's "QRT", Supt. Ophelio Dakila Concina, chief of Calumpit police, said the wounds on Joson's body had already partially healed.

"Nung tinignan namin ang katawan, may nakita po kaming mga kalmot. Sariwa pa rito sa leeg. Tapos 'yung sa may katawan, tuyo na," pagsasalaysay ni Concina.

Police have taken custody of Joson's jeep, which may have been used in the crime. The Calumpit police chief said the police have leads on other suspects in the crime.
 
Two other suspects had earlier been arrested and interrogated.

Culprits may be from the area

Espiritu was last seen leaving for a night out, her mother said in the report.

"Pinaalalahanan ko po siya (bago umalis noong Miyerkules). 'Yun po kasi, parang sosyal manamit. Sabi ko, bakit ka ganyang manamit? Uso na raw ang ganun," the victim's mother, Gloria, said.

The victim's family could no longer contact her past 2 a.m. on Thursday and her body was found later that day naked and with multiple stab wounds.
 
Gloria Espiritu said her daughter frequently posted photos on Facebook, something that she warned her daughter against doing since it might attract the attention of strangers.

She believes her daughter knew her killers and that they are from the area.
 
"Sana ma-solve na ang imbestigasyon. Umaasa ako sa Panginoon na magkakaroon ng katarungan ang anak ko," she said.
 
Task Force Anria

The Calumpit Police Station has already formed Task Force Anria to focus on the case.

Forensic investigators found four traces of semen in the victim's body, indicating she was raped and killed by four men. Also recovered from the crime scene were a screwdriver and a chain.

The public may send information on the case to Supt. Concina through this number: 09291774382. — JDS/KG, GMA News