Driver of slain Pampanga businesswoman now a person of interest

The driver of the slain businesswoman in Pampanga is now considered a person of interest by police. 

According to Ian Cruz’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the body of 59-year-old Maria Teresa Mamac was buried inside the compound of her house on Monday after she went missing for four days. 

Mamac was the widow of the late chairman of Barangay Balibago, Angeles City in Pampanga. 

Authorities discovered a suspicious excavation beside the pig pen, which is just a few steps away from the family driver’s house. 

“Most likely may butas na po ‘yun kasi impossible kang makapaghukay ka ng ganun kalalim within a span of one hour,” said Angeles City Station 4 commander Police Major Ronan James Eblahan. 

(Most likely there was already a hole there because it’s impossible for you to dig that deep within a span of one hour.) 

The remains underwent an autopsy. Investigators said a portion of her skull was crushed. 

“Basag po dito sa may left part ng ulo niya and most likely po pinalo ng isang matigas na bagay…Parang durog po nung kinakapa,” said Eblahan. 

(The left part of her head was smashed, and most likely she was hit with a hard object… It felt crushed when it was being examined.)

The victim was reported missing on February 12. CCTV footage showed a man emerging from the Mamac’s compound at 7:22 p.m. of the said day. Mamac’s family identified him as “Manuel,” who was employed as their driver for over 20 years. 

“Manuel” later went back inside the compound after receiving a food delivery from the victim’s child.

After a few minutes, CCTV showed Mamac’s white car arriving at the residence.  

At 7:30 p.m., a scream can be heard from CCTV footage taken inside Mamac’s house. Authorities believe the scream came from the victim. 

An hour later, the white vehicle was seen leaving the compound. 

A witness claimed she saw “Manuel” jump out of the car and hurriedly close the compound’s gate. 

The white vehicle was found parked and abandoned at the Magalang Municipal Plaza last February 14. It was subjected to forensic examination. 

“Manuel,” meanwhile, has yet to be reached out or seen by Mamac’s family since February 12. He is now a target of a police manhunt operation. 

“Siya lang po yung huling nakita na kasama po nung victim and huling nakita na may tanan po nung sasakyan. So we considered him as a person of interest,” said Eblahan. 

(He was the last person seen with the victim and the last one seen in possession of the vehicle. So we consider him a person of interest.) 

“Ongoing po yung forward tracking natin and sinusundan po natin itong si “Manuel”, through CCTVs kung saan po siya nagpunta,” he added. 

(Our forward tracking is ongoing and we are following “Manuel” through CCTVs [to see] where he went.) 

Mamac’s family declined to give a comment on the matter as they mourn her passing. 

A P200,000 reward was offered by Pampanga 1st District Congressman Carmelo Lazatin Jr. for information as to the identity of the person behind Mamac’s death.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News