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Police eye money dispute as motive in slay of ex-Batangas solon Mendoza
Police investigators are eyeing money issue as the motive behind the killing of former Batangas Representative Edgar Mendoza early this month.
At a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday, Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group acting director Police Brigadier General Joel Coronel said the main suspect in the slay of Mendoza is one of the victim's former clients, Sherwin Sanchez.
Sanchez is presently detained at the New Bilibid Prison on murder charges.
Coronel said Mendoza, a lawyer, was supposed to collect money from Sanchez's camp. However, the latter had really no intention of paying him.
"On the day Congressman Mendoza disappeared, he was supposed to collect money from representatives of the principal suspect in Calamba City," Coronel said.
"I understand na there was a disagreement on the amount to be collected and also based on the revelations made by the witnesses and the suspects... there was really no intention on the part of the suspects to pay the amount agreed by them," he added.
Coronel said Fajardo contacted his wife, Jael Fajardo, to contact the killers.
"Instead of paying the amount amounting to millions of pesos, they just contracted killers for the killing of Congressman Mendoza for the sum of P100,000," Coronel said.
Coronel said the victims were lured to proceed to the residence of Jael in Calamba City to get the money. The victims, however, were served coffee with sleeping pills.
After that, the unconscious victims were carried inside their vehicle where they were brutally killed by the suspects.
"Apparently, after the effects of the drugs have worn off, they were stabbed and struck by hard objects in the head, causing their death," Coronel said.
Coronel said the companions of Mendoza, driver Ruel Ruiz and bodyguard Nicanor Mendoza, were "collateral damage" in the crime.
On Wednesday, Coronel announced the arrest of five suspects on the crime. Aside from Jael, the other suspects were later identified as Kristine Fernandez, Madonna Palermo, Carlo Acuña and Erickson Balbastro.
Another suspect, identified as Rodel Mercado, is still at large. Police said Acuña, Balbastro and Mercado had previous criminal cases and were previously detained at the Batangas Provincial Jail.
Case solved
According to Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, the case is already solved.
"The CIDG has filed an information for three counts of murder against the six suspects before the Calamba City Prosecutor's Office," Gamboa said.
"This case is considered solved and is now elevated to the prosecution arm of the justice system," Gamboa added.
Mendoza's vehicle was found burned in Tiaong last January 9. Investigators found the bodies of the three victims at the back seat of the vehicle.
Authorities earlier said the suspects brought Mendoza's car to a desolated bridge in Tiaong, Quezon before it was consumed by fire. — RSJ, GMA News
