MANILA, Philippines - Four suspects in what was believed to have been the kidnapping of a wealthy Isabela-based Filipino-Chinese couple were apprehended by authorities nearly three weeks after the couple’s reported disappearance.
This, after one of the suspects, identified as Eduardo Sapipi, who claimed to have been bothered by his conscience, surfaced and admitted being part of the murder of businessman Lucio Pua, 42; and his wife Rosemarie, 40; and their business partner Gemma Eugenio.
The Puas were rice and palay traders, with Eugenio acting as their agent.
All were residents of Isabela’s Alicia town.
Reports said they were last seen alive on the late afternoon of Sept. 6, or after they went to collect some P1.3 million for the thousands of sacks of rice and palay delivered a week earlier to one Jaylord Dimal, reportedly also a palay buyer in Barangay Ipil in neighboring Echague town.
“Mr. Dimal, through the aid of a (lawyer) surrendered to (Cagayan Valley police director) Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman,” said Senior Superintendent Jimmy Ri-vera, Isabela police director.
Dimal, police said, denied any involvement in the case as claimed in the reported extrajudicial confession of Sapipi with the aid of a public attorney.
Police said such a breakthrough in the case had been the result of almost three weeks of surveillance and investigative works by elements from the Isabela and regional police offices and other units.
Sapipi’s turning himself over to authorities was followed by the surrenders of one Allan Castillo alias Gerald and a certain Ernesto Villador, all alleged laborers and identified with Dimal.
Sapipi accused Dimal of being the mastermind behind the killing. In his confession, he claimed he and Castillo had heard gunshots from Dimal’s kitchen, then afterwards, Dimal called them inside and there, according to him, saw the already dead Puas and their companion.
According to Sapipi, Dimal then allegedly ordered them to bring out the bodies, and then Castillo reportedly cut up the victims’ bodies with a knife.
Sapipi also admitted being the one Dimal allegedly told to bring the Puas’ Honda CRV to Santiago City and leave it at the back of the De Vera’s Hospital, adding that he had likewise been ordered to accompany one Michael Miranda in looking for drums to contain the remains.
P10-million debt
He said he and Miranda later threw the two drums containing the victims’ remains into a creek in Sinsayon village around midnight of Sept. 6.
Reports indicated that Sapipi then disappeared for a week with Dimal allegedly giving him some P21,500 pocket money.
According to police, Dimal, who surrendered, accompanied by his father Carlos and a lawyer, admitted to Villaroman that he planned the kidnapping and killing of the three victims over his P10 million debt to them.
Police said the three victims were kidnapped by several suspects at about 10:26 p.m. on Sept. 6 while on their way home. Several hours later, their dismembered bodies were found in different areas in Isabela and Quirino provinces.
According to police, after they were abducted, relatives of the victims received phone calls from the alleged suspects asking for a P10-million ransom. The victims’ relatives informed the Chinese embassy who then sought police assistance.
During the investigation of the case, Sapipi, one of those who snatched the victims surrendered to police and offered to turn witness. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe - By Charlie Lagasca and Mike Frialde
