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Cash for info offer stands on slay case
By Dale G. Israel
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 13:10:00 02/02/2009
Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice, Crime, Police, Local authorities
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines - Mandaue City officials Sunday called on the police to arrest three men and one woman allegedly involved in the murder of call center employee Lynvi Ebarita late last month.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes issued the call following the arrest of suspected mastermind and fellow call center employee Jonnelle Enfectana last Wednesday.
The mayor confirmed that his offer of a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects still stands.
“I commend the police for taking an active part in solving the crime. But they should dig deeper in their investigation and leave no stone untouched,†Cortes said.
The police's Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (IDMB) said the other suspects whose identities were still unknown were still in Eastern Visayas.
Murder charges were filed against Enfectana, who underwent an inquest proceeding at the Mandaue City Prosecutor's Office last Friday.
Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna said there is no need to offer a cash reward to informants anymore.
“I don't think it may have any value now because the principal suspect has been identified. The police are no longer facing a blank wall,†Fortuna said.
The vice mayor added that what is important now is to appeal to other witnesses to come forward.
“What's needed is for the witnesses to share information to the police that can help them identify the suspects and establish their motive,†Fortuna said.
He said that unless the other suspects were arrested, Ebarita's loved ones will continue to live in fear.
“It is only when we can bring them (suspects) behind bars can their lives return to normal,†the vice mayor said.
It was believed that Ebarita and Enfectana were with the suspect's cousin Evelyn Apelado, Roxan or Rachon, Wabert Diu or Wabert Wo and Arnel Babon the night before she was murdered at the Nikkei Garden Hotel in Barangay (village) Subangdaku in Mandaue City.
Except for Enfectana, the other persons identified did not present themselves to the police for investigation, according to a written complaint filed by Ebarita's sister Joy Perpetua.
The group of Ebarita and Enfectana were believed to have been drinking at Ninoy's Payag Restobar at Escario Street before heading to the hotel, the complaint added.
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