Cops find new evidence vs. husband in Laguna mother-child murders

Lawmen have found another evidence linking husband in the killing of his wife and child in Laguna two years ago. 

On March 2, 2016, Pearl Sta. Ana and her child Denzel were hit with a hammer in the head, causing their deaths.

GMA News' John Consulta reported on "Balitanghali" that police have obtained CCTV footage showing the recently arrested suspect with the one who surrendered in 2016, entering a fast food chain in Muntinlupa with Ricardo Sta. Ana, Pearl's husband.

In the footage, the three can be seen walking out from fast food chain a few minutes after their entry.

The pants worn by the suspects in the said CCTV footage were the same pants they had worn on the CCTV footage captured near the victims’ house in Laguna.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)–Laguna District Office Chief Daniel Daganzo said they have strong evidence against Sta. Ana and the two other suspects.

“Itong CCTV na ito yung magpapatunay sa statement ng dalawang suspek na nag-meeting sila sa fast food chain sa Muntinlupa. Sa CCTV makikita na nandun nga si Sta. Ana,” Daganzo said.

Suspects confirmed the video that showed them meeting with Sta. Ana.

According to the suspects, that was when they gave Sta. Ana the phone containing a video of the murder and received P60,000 for their job.

Daganzo said that with the CCTV footage as evidence, they believed that Sta. Ana masterminded the crime.

Also, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is holding the middleman that they identified as "Toto," who referred the suspects to Sta. Ana.

According to him, he met Sta. Ana who introduced himself as "Jeff" at a tricycle terminal in Muntinlupa.

“Komportable siyang sabihin lahat ng plano niya dahil akala niya kasama ako sa gagawa na ‘yun. Yung papasukin daw na bahay, may kaya raw yung may-ari nun. Pinaka-bonus daw nila dun, kung ano raw yung kayang kunin sa bahay na yun, kunin daw nila," Toto said.

“Pieces of evidence and the facts will show regarding dun sa involvement nga nung asawa sa case na ‘to. Sa mastermind, si Mr. Sta. Ana, na ibigay niya rin yung side niya,” said the Laguna Police Provincial Office Director Eleazar Mata.

The NBI, PNP and the Laguna District Office have already filed a new double parricide complaint against Sta. Ana for masterminding the killings of members of his family.

“Mahalaga po na lahat ng may sala dito ay mapanagot sa ilalaim ng ating batas, at hindi lang po yung hired killers kundi po yung tinuturing mastermind,” said Sta. Rosa Police chief Eugene Orate.

As of posting time, GMA News was still trying to reach Sta. Ana for his side. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News