Despite confession: Bulacan massacre suspect tests negative for drugs

The suspect behind the massacre of five people in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan has tested negative for illegal drug use.

In an interview on "QRT" on Friday, Philippine National Police Region 3 director C/Supt. Aaron Aquino said that Carmelino "Miling" Navarro Ibañes' drug test came out negative on Thursday.

"Si Ibañes ay napa-drug test na natin kahapon. At nag-negative yung result ni Ibañes sa drug tests, within 24 hours nag-negative siya," Aquino said.

"Chineck ko sa chemist kung ano yung mga rason kung bakit nagne-negative after 24 hours use of drugs, ang sabi niya, most likely mas mabilis ang metabolism ni Ibañes or yung quality ng in-intake niya ay masyadong maliit or yung quality naman ng shabu ay hindi ganon ka-concentrate nung ginamit niya or nagpapawis siya o madalas siyang umiihi kaya talagang medyo nag-negative siya sa drug test," he added.

Ibañes, 26, a construction worker, was nabbed by the San Jose del Monte Police at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday. He admitted to the crime as well as being high on drugs when it was committed.

After initially saying he acted alone in committing the murders, he tagged two other accomplices in the crime, a certain Tony and Inggo.

Aquino assured that despite the negative results, this would not weaken their case.

"Yung chemist naman namin ay may kanya-kanyang explanation kung bakit nagne-negative. It doesn't mean pag nagne-negative ka ay hindi ka drug user kasi pinagtapat ni Ibañes na noon ay regular user siya na halos araw-araw," Aquino said.

"Pero the past month eh, once a week na lang daw siya gumagamit, so ito rin yung rason kung kaya madaling mawala yung droga sa katawan 'pag occassionally ka na lang nagtete-take ng drugs mas madaling mawala sa system ang droga," he added. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/JST, GMA News