Suspect in missing man's slay tied to group in Ruby Rose murder

The suspect behind the murder of a man found in Caloocan City who was missing for three years is being linked to a group of the alleged mastermind in the 2007 slay of Ruby Rose Barrameda.

In Emil Sumangil’s report in 24 Oras on Tuesday, the body of 29-year-old Noel Gonzaga was positively identified by his mother in a funeral parlor in Caloocan City.

“Siya po ‘yan, ayan po yung suot niya nung nawala po siya,” the mother Ruby Theresa Gonzaga said.

(That’s my son, that’s what he was wearing when we last saw him.)

The family coordinated with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) after they saw the suspect, alias Noli, on television being arrested for his involvement in another kidnap for ransom case.

“Siya po, nag-confess naman  siya voluntarily ang siya ang pumatay sa anak ko,” the mother said while pointing to the suspect.

(That’s him, he already confessed voluntarily that he killed my son.)

In police custody, Noli led Gonzaga's family to a grassy lot where he and his cohorts disposed of the victim’s body.

“Itong biktima ay hinihingan ng pera na worth P200,000 kasi nalaman nung suspect na kaibigan niya, schoolmate, na may kaya ito. Siya pa yung kumontak sa nanay na humingi ng P200,000,” said Police Major Don Don Llapitan, CIDU-QCPD chief.

(The victim was being forced to give P200,000 because the suspect, who turned out to be his friend and schoolmate, found out that he was well-off. He  was in fact the one who contacted the mother and asked for P200,000.)

Gonzaga's mother believes that there are also other suspects behind the tragic fate of her eldest son.

“Lumilitaw na talagang hanapbuhay ng mga ito ay mangidnap at manghingi ng ransom,” she said.

(It appears that their livelihood is kidnapping and demanding ransom.) 

The QCPD said the suspect could be part of the group behind the recent kidnapping and murder of a businessman in Quezon City. One of the suspects was earlier arrested.

Actress Rochelle Barrameda earlier said the captured suspect in the businessman’s slay could also be the alleged mastermind in the gruesome 2007 killing of her sister, Ruby Rose.

“Marami na pong nagpapatunay na siya na po yung mastermind ng pagpatay sa businessman,” said Llapitan. “Pwede rin natin siyang kasuhan ng pagtatago ng pangalan.”

(There is substantial evidence that proves that he is the mastermind in the killing of the businessman [...] We can also charge him for changing his name.)

The alleged mastermind, who uses two different names, was arrested following a hot pursuit operation.

The man has denied any involvement in Ruby Rose's killing. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News