Ex-Constabulary man eyed in Calamba killings

(Updated 10:05 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Police investigators are eyeing the possible role of a former Constabulary man in a pre-dawn massacre in Calamba City, after recovering from the crime scene a rifle magazine with his name on it. Calamba police director Supt. Nestor dela Cueva said they have invited retired Philippine Constabulary (PC) Sgt. Florencio Peria for questioning to see if he can shed light on the incident. "Pinuntahan namin ang bahay niya at aming sinearch ang bahay, wala kaming nakitang baril sa loob. Iniimbitahan namin siya para ma-paraffin test, baka sakaling makatulong sa ginagawa nating imbestigasyon (We went to his house but found no firearm there. We invited him to police headquarters for a paraffin test. It might shed light on the case)," Dela Cueva said in an interview on dzRH radio. Dela Cueva described Peria as a former member of the PC who was later joined the Integrated National Police (INP). The PC and INP were integrated into the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 1991. Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, chief of police in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) Region, said in a separate radio interview that he was already able to speak with Peria, who admitted ownership to the recovered items but denied involvement in the incident. "Tinanong ko siya kanina at umamin naman siya sa akin. At sabi niya nung siya ay nasa serbisyo pa, mayroong mga kaibigan siyang nanghihingi ng mga magazine (I asked him a while back and he admitted that the recovered magazines were once his. He (Peria) said that when he was still ins service, there were friends who would ask for magazines from him)," Padilla said. “We are going to investigate him formally. That’s why he was brought here to the camp for proper investigation," Padilla added. Earlier in the day, Dela Cueva said their initial investigation showed the incident occurred between 11 p.m. Sunday and 12:15 a.m. Monday. Investigators remain baffled over the motive of the gunman in firing at the victims. The fatalities were initially identified as Dennis Balisong, 29; daughters Gladys, 8, and Gladen, 7; Jerry Pili, 49; Gloria Pili, 39; Mary Jane Pili, 12; Sarah Pili, 9; and Julian Pili, 4. Rushed to the San Jose Hospital were Dennis' wife Marina Balisong, 31; son Dennis Mark Balisong, 5; Aurelio Abanilla, 52; Vicente Redondo, 42; Cherry Mae Pili, 17; and Erica Pili, 8. Investigators recovered from the crime scene three magazines of an M16-rifle: one found near the house and two more on the road. Based on these items, investigators are considering the possibility that there was a lone perpetrator in the shooting rampage. “Tinitignan namin kung ito ba ay nag-amok. Ito ba ay nasa impluwensiya ng droga o ito ba ay talagang may lihim na galit sa barangay. Iyan ang tinitignan namin at pinagko-connect-connect namin (We are looking if the suspect had run amuck or if he was under the influence of drugs or whether he really had a grudge with the village people)," Padilla said. - GMANews.TV