Cops widen probe on Aussie's rob-slay
As the investigation into the robbery and killing of Australian Werner Holz widens to include the relatives of his Filipina wife, police say they already have 'three or four' suspects.
The Task Force Werner is also looking at a possible involvement of a member of the household in the robbery and the killing of Holz, said to be a retired police officer, provincial police chief, Sr. Supt. Ricardo dela Paz told The News Today yesterday.
Police investigators already have “three or four names who may have possible involvement in the crime,” dela Paz said. He, however, refused to give out more details about their suspects so as not to prejudice the investigation. “We don't want them to know that we know something,” he explained.
Initially, police said that the motive was robbery. As the investigation progressed, the police is looking at other angles.
“We are exploring other possible motives... we are entertaining other motives, including the possibility that there was an insider,” the provincial police chief said, “because the crime was very systematic, and the robbers knew where to come in and get out.”
Dela Paz also said that the relatives of Vivian are also being investigated.
He described Holz' relationship with his wife's relatives as 'somewhat strained.' “The relatives of his wife don't seem to be in terms with Holz,” dela Paz stressed.
“There are many stories coming out in our investigation,” he added.
The obvious motive is robbery, because valuables were forcibly taken, but the police are also looking at personal grudges against Holz, dela Paz said.
Three unidentified men wearing face masks and hand gloves entered the house through the backdoor in Brgy. Pili in Ajuy town just as Holz and his wife, 31-year-old Vivian, were preparing to sleep at around 12:15 am Tuesday. Two had short firearms, and the third had a knife.
Two of the three men secured the 6'2” Holz, while the third forced Vivian at gunpoint to open the safe. They hogtied Vivian and locked her inside the comfort room, then stabbed Holz 24 times.
The robbers escaped with P200,000, $5,000, and jewelries amounting to about P800,000. Holz settled in the coastal town of Ajuy after he retired. He engaged in lending, and rice and corn trading, and put up a piggery business in Ajuy.