FHM model killed in ’Gapo with 3 others
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03/14/2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=124609
Four persons, including a model of the men’s magazine FHM, were found dead early yesterday in an Olongapo City apartment that appeared to have been set on fire.
…each of the four victims was found with a bullet wound in the head, and two of them had burning pillows and paper also beside their heads. The latter two were identified as George Vitug Castor Jr., 27, and Von Mark Bandejas, 22.
Judging from the bullet casings recovered at the scene, the killers used 9mm and .45-cal. guns, said Senior Supt. Abelardo Villacorta, the Olongapo police chief.
Villacorta said the bodies of Castor and Bandejas, with hands bound, were found on the living room floor.
The bodies of Castor’s reported live-in partner, Scarlet Garcia, 23, and of Rachel Estacio, 20, were found in the bathroom.
Garcia was an FHM model popularly known as Scarlet Bouffard. She was one of the girls featured in its November 2007 issue.
The hair of Castor and Bandejas had been burned, Villacorta said.
He said a punctured canister of butane, a fuel for lighters, was also found on the floor of the apartment located on the second story of a three-story building.
According to witnesses, the fire started at 3:25 a.m. at Apartment No. 52-B and spread to two more units on the third floor.
Responding firemen and policemen arrived at the scene an hour later.
Witnesses said Castor, Garcia, Bandejas and Estacio had been renting the apartment for over a month.
They were seen and heard drinking and singing in their unit a few hours before the fire broke out.
Villacorta said investigators gathered from a witness that at about 2 a.m., a man was seen transferring items from a Toyota Vios to a blue car parked in front of the victims’ apartment.
The Vios, reportedly owned by Castor, has been taken to the police’s crime laboratory services, also in Olongapo. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon
Neighbors try to overcome trauma from murder of FHM model
By Robert Gonzaga, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04/24/2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080424-132480/Neighbors-try-to-overcome-trauma-from-murder-of-FHM-model
OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines -- Forty days after the March 13 murder of FHM magazine model Scarlet Garcia and three others, a mass was held at the townhouse where their bodies were found, to "cast away bad spirits."
Afterwards, fireworks went off to drive away "bad spirits" that might haunt what became known as "Scarlet Garcia's townhouse" at Gordon Heights here, owner Luis Ramirez said.
The police arrested two suspects, Ferdinand Carderas and Jay-Ar Perez Mojica, on April 4, in the City of San Fernando where they were also linked to the break-in at the houses of Pampanga board member Raul Macalino and his neighbor and the rape of a 17-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman in one of the houses.
Murder of FHM model, 3 friends ‘solved,’ says PNP
By Ansbert Joaquin, Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04/14/2008
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=130332
Chief Superintendent Errol Pan announced the solution of the case after the Olongapo City police on Monday filed a case for murder with arson against two suspects, who were arrested in related incidents of robbery and rape in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga on April 4.
The two suspects were identified by the Pampanga police as Ferdinand Cadenas and JR Mojico. The Olongapo police, however, identified them as Ferdinand Carderas and Jay-Ar Perez Mojica.
They were implicated in the Olongapo murders after the results of ballistic tests done by the PNP crime laboratory in Camp Crame showed that a bullet and a cartridge used in Olongapo were fired from a gun recovered in the San Fernando cases, Superintendent Daisy Babor, chief of the PNP regional crime laboratory, told reporters on Monday.
The specimens which were subjected to cross-matching were a "9 mm slightly deformed jacketed fired bullet marked MAA-4-08" and a "9 X 29 mm fired cartridge case marked MAA-1-08 to MAA-5-08" found at the crime scene in Garcia's apartment and a "9mm Parabellum V. Bernadelli SRA model P018S pistol with serial number 303240 marked RCS4," said Chief Insp. Ronald Yusi, forensic firearms examiner.
Microscopic examination and comparison of the bullet and cartridge "revealed the same individual characteristics with the test bullets and cartridge cases fired from the 9mm Parabellum," said a part of the two-page report by Superintendent Reynaldo de Guzman, forensic firearms examiner and chief of the PNP national firearms identification division.
Senior Superintendent Liza Sabong, chief of the PNP directorial staff, noted De Guzman's report.
"The specimens really matched," Pan said.
Senior Superintendent Keith Singian, Pampanga police director, said the Parabellum gun was recovered from Cadenas during the arrest. Mojico, who initially identified himself as John Ariel Santos, held a .45 cal. gun.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
2 severed heads, dead baby found in QC villages
2 severed heads, dead baby found in QC villages
By Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Two villages in Quezon City were jolted Thursday morning with the discovery of two human heads and a mutilated dead baby.
Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), said the two heads were found by scavengers floating along a creek in Sitio (sub-village) West Riverside, Barangay (village) San Antonio at around 9:30 a.m.
Quoting witnesses, Mabanag said the heads were already bloated and in the early stages of decomposition.
He said they believe the heads belonged to members of a drug syndicate who may have been killed by their gangmates.
At about the same time, the body of a baby boy was discovered at a tricycle terminal on H. Francisco Street corner Morato Road, Barangay Damayan.
Driver Hermilando Balalad Jr. said he found a plastic bag inside a tricycle as he was parking his vehicle at the terminal.
Curious about its contents, he said he opened the bag and was shocked to see the dead baby estimated to be about seven months old.
Balalad said the baby had a long open wound on his chest.
“It was likely that the baby boy’s chest was cut open. But we’re not sure if his internal organs were gone,” said village chairman Gualberto Casaje.
READ THE FULL REPORT AT:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=126747
By Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Two villages in Quezon City were jolted Thursday morning with the discovery of two human heads and a mutilated dead baby.
Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), said the two heads were found by scavengers floating along a creek in Sitio (sub-village) West Riverside, Barangay (village) San Antonio at around 9:30 a.m.
Quoting witnesses, Mabanag said the heads were already bloated and in the early stages of decomposition.
He said they believe the heads belonged to members of a drug syndicate who may have been killed by their gangmates.
At about the same time, the body of a baby boy was discovered at a tricycle terminal on H. Francisco Street corner Morato Road, Barangay Damayan.
Driver Hermilando Balalad Jr. said he found a plastic bag inside a tricycle as he was parking his vehicle at the terminal.
Curious about its contents, he said he opened the bag and was shocked to see the dead baby estimated to be about seven months old.
Balalad said the baby had a long open wound on his chest.
“It was likely that the baby boy’s chest was cut open. But we’re not sure if his internal organs were gone,” said village chairman Gualberto Casaje.
READ THE FULL REPORT AT:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=126747
Friday, September 26, 2008
Hypno Thief
Got this link from Andre, which made me think of The Ringmaster, the Spider-Man villain who wore a top hat with a spiral disc that he used to hypnotize people. Also remember other super-villains like Mesmero and the Purple Man.
Then there was that man I met in KL and it's just all too embarrassing to tell how I got conned into giving him several hundred ringgit. (My mom thinks I was hypnotized. I think I was just too scared and too stupid to do anything else.)
Anyway, here's the report about...
Hypnotism used in thefts
By Alcuin Papa, Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080925-162884/Hypnotism-used-in-thefts
Criminals are now more creative in preying on their victims by employing new techniques which include, believe it or not, hypnotism, an anti-crime group has warned.
In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tessie Ang See of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), warned the public on Thursday, particularly Chinese Filipino families, to be more vigilant, aware and informed of the new modus operandi used by criminal groups.
“Criminals are now more creative in perpetrating their dastardly acts, more so since these are difficult times. Chinoy (Chinese Filipino) families are especially vulnerable,” she said.
One of the newer and more unusual methods is the use of hypnotism, according to Ang See.
She explained that they received stories from three victims allegedly hypnotized into giving up their cash and valuables. According to Ang See, three women speaking in Mandarin roam the streets of Binondo and swoop down on unsuspecting Chinese females walking alone.
“Through some form of hypnotic suggestion, the victims follow the commands of the women,” Ang See said.
One victim was hypnotized into going back to her residence in Quezon City to retrieve her cash and valuables and return to Binondo to turn them over to the hypnotizers. Another victim even went to her bank to open her safe deposit boxes.
Another victim, Ang See said, felt weak after the perpetrators tapped her on the shoulder. She went home, took her valuables from her cabinet and turned them over to the thieves. She then fell asleep and awoke refreshed and puzzled as to how she agreed to give the thieves her valuables.
Ang See said they requested the victims to provide a sketch of the perpetrators to warn other potential victims and help police arrest suspects.
Then there was that man I met in KL and it's just all too embarrassing to tell how I got conned into giving him several hundred ringgit. (My mom thinks I was hypnotized. I think I was just too scared and too stupid to do anything else.)
Anyway, here's the report about...
Hypnotism used in thefts
By Alcuin Papa, Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080925-162884/Hypnotism-used-in-thefts
Criminals are now more creative in preying on their victims by employing new techniques which include, believe it or not, hypnotism, an anti-crime group has warned.
In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tessie Ang See of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), warned the public on Thursday, particularly Chinese Filipino families, to be more vigilant, aware and informed of the new modus operandi used by criminal groups.
“Criminals are now more creative in perpetrating their dastardly acts, more so since these are difficult times. Chinoy (Chinese Filipino) families are especially vulnerable,” she said.
One of the newer and more unusual methods is the use of hypnotism, according to Ang See.
She explained that they received stories from three victims allegedly hypnotized into giving up their cash and valuables. According to Ang See, three women speaking in Mandarin roam the streets of Binondo and swoop down on unsuspecting Chinese females walking alone.
“Through some form of hypnotic suggestion, the victims follow the commands of the women,” Ang See said.
One victim was hypnotized into going back to her residence in Quezon City to retrieve her cash and valuables and return to Binondo to turn them over to the hypnotizers. Another victim even went to her bank to open her safe deposit boxes.
Another victim, Ang See said, felt weak after the perpetrators tapped her on the shoulder. She went home, took her valuables from her cabinet and turned them over to the thieves. She then fell asleep and awoke refreshed and puzzled as to how she agreed to give the thieves her valuables.
Ang See said they requested the victims to provide a sketch of the perpetrators to warn other potential victims and help police arrest suspects.
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Firestarter
Here’s another case that I noticed in the Inquirer last year, mainly because the circumstances reminded me of one of stories in TRESE.
The two women were found burned in two separate motels. They were found two days apart.
The first woman was around 60 to 65 years old. She was found in Sweet Hotel at the corner of Rizal Avenue and C.M. Recto Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila in Room 320. The staff noticed thick smoke coming out of the room around 2am, which prompted them to open the door. In the room police found pink shorts, a yellow shirt with the name “Norma” on it, and a pair of beige shoes which could’ve belonged to the victim.
The second woman was around 30 to 35 years old. She found in Happy Inn Motel on Palma and Paterno Streets, Quiapo in Room 207. She was found naked on the bed, wrapped in a blanket. The body was found at 5:25pm. In the room, police found denim jeans, a pink belt, a pink T-shirt, yellow blouse, shoulder bag and rubber shoes that could have belonged to the victim.
In the autopsy, smoke was found in the lungs of both victims, indicating that they were burned alive.
Chief Insp. Dominador Arevalo, head of the Manila Police District homicide division, said the inability to identify both victims and the suspect made further investigation difficult. In a report posted on Feburary 29, 2007, the bodies were brought to Popular Funeral Homes and were not yet claimed.
The homicide chief said the crimes could have been done by the same person who was described as around 30-35-years old, male, about 5’6” in height. He reportedly stayed overnight in the motels with the victims. The artist’s sketches of the man in both incidents were similar, Arevalo said. In the case of the second victim, the room was registered in the name of Marvin Cachola.
So, were both crimes committed by the same unsub?
In both crimes, the witnesses saw the victims enter the motel with the unsub, which meant the victims knew the unsub. They trusted him enough to go with him into the room.
Was the first crime his “dress rehearsal”? Maybe the unsub chose an older victim, which he could easily subdue and the second victim was he intended target.
No other incidents were reported after those two victims.
Although, it is interesting to note that in the past year, there have been a lot of fires throughout the city. Is it possible that those fires were started by the same unsub and that there were victims that weren’t discovered because the fire burned up the whole building?
Below are links to the reports:
1
Badly burned body of woman found in hotel room
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080223-120654/Badly-burned-body-of-woman-found-in-hotel-room
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/23/2008
2
Another woman burned in motel
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080224-120937/Another-woman-burned-in-motel
By Allison Lopez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/24/2008
3
Woman in motel fire burned alive
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080225-120979/Woman-in-motel-fire-burned-alive
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/25/2008
4
Woman’s burned body found in motel
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080226-121192/Womans-burned-body-found-in-motel
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/26/2008
5
2 burned women found in motels remain unidentified
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080229-121874/2-burned-women-found-in-motels-remain-unidentified
By Allison Lopez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/29/2008
The two women were found burned in two separate motels. They were found two days apart.
The first woman was around 60 to 65 years old. She was found in Sweet Hotel at the corner of Rizal Avenue and C.M. Recto Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila in Room 320. The staff noticed thick smoke coming out of the room around 2am, which prompted them to open the door. In the room police found pink shorts, a yellow shirt with the name “Norma” on it, and a pair of beige shoes which could’ve belonged to the victim.
The second woman was around 30 to 35 years old. She found in Happy Inn Motel on Palma and Paterno Streets, Quiapo in Room 207. She was found naked on the bed, wrapped in a blanket. The body was found at 5:25pm. In the room, police found denim jeans, a pink belt, a pink T-shirt, yellow blouse, shoulder bag and rubber shoes that could have belonged to the victim.
In the autopsy, smoke was found in the lungs of both victims, indicating that they were burned alive.
Chief Insp. Dominador Arevalo, head of the Manila Police District homicide division, said the inability to identify both victims and the suspect made further investigation difficult. In a report posted on Feburary 29, 2007, the bodies were brought to Popular Funeral Homes and were not yet claimed.
The homicide chief said the crimes could have been done by the same person who was described as around 30-35-years old, male, about 5’6” in height. He reportedly stayed overnight in the motels with the victims. The artist’s sketches of the man in both incidents were similar, Arevalo said. In the case of the second victim, the room was registered in the name of Marvin Cachola.
So, were both crimes committed by the same unsub?
In both crimes, the witnesses saw the victims enter the motel with the unsub, which meant the victims knew the unsub. They trusted him enough to go with him into the room.
Was the first crime his “dress rehearsal”? Maybe the unsub chose an older victim, which he could easily subdue and the second victim was he intended target.
No other incidents were reported after those two victims.
Although, it is interesting to note that in the past year, there have been a lot of fires throughout the city. Is it possible that those fires were started by the same unsub and that there were victims that weren’t discovered because the fire burned up the whole building?
Below are links to the reports:
1
Badly burned body of woman found in hotel room
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080223-120654/Badly-burned-body-of-woman-found-in-hotel-room
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/23/2008
2
Another woman burned in motel
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080224-120937/Another-woman-burned-in-motel
By Allison Lopez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/24/2008
3
Woman in motel fire burned alive
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080225-120979/Woman-in-motel-fire-burned-alive
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/25/2008
4
Woman’s burned body found in motel
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080226-121192/Womans-burned-body-found-in-motel
By Tina Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/26/2008
5
2 burned women found in motels remain unidentified
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080229-121874/2-burned-women-found-in-motels-remain-unidentified
By Allison Lopez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02/29/2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
armed with guns and magical amulets
There are been several incidents in Philippine history when policemen or the military encountered people who armed themselves with so-called magical amulets.
So far, there have been no known reports of these people surviving when the law men opened fire.
Amulets clues to suspected robbers in Makati shootout
By DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 08/29/2008
The identities of the suspected robbers who engaged the police in a gunfight in the middle of a Makati street Thursday remained unknown but the police said Friday they had uncovered some clues about the group.
The clues included amulets they wore that were similar to those worn by the suspects who staged a P2.7 million heist along Gil Puyat Avenue in front of Caltex gas station in June, in which two of the suspects died, the police said.
READ THE COMPLETE REPORT AT:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080829-157614/Amulets-clues-to-suspected-robbers-in-Makati-shootout
So far, there have been no known reports of these people surviving when the law men opened fire.
Amulets clues to suspected robbers in Makati shootout
By DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 08/29/2008
The identities of the suspected robbers who engaged the police in a gunfight in the middle of a Makati street Thursday remained unknown but the police said Friday they had uncovered some clues about the group.
The clues included amulets they wore that were similar to those worn by the suspects who staged a P2.7 million heist along Gil Puyat Avenue in front of Caltex gas station in June, in which two of the suspects died, the police said.
READ THE COMPLETE REPORT AT:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080829-157614/Amulets-clues-to-suspected-robbers-in-Makati-shootout
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