Mystery shrouds violent death of DepEd exec

By Florence F. Hibionada, correspondent

Wednesday's brutal killing of a top Department of Education (DepEd) official has brought in thus far several leads for authorities to pursue. Probers have also 'invited' one person for questioning as validation continuous on more tips gathered from outside sources. Yet the mystery remains and heightens on the circumstances surrounding the incident that has since shocked the DepEd community.

The hapless victim, Schools Division Superintendent Arturo Juada of DepEd Aklan sustained a total of 93 stab wounds, 17 to 20 of which proved fatal, concentrated on the neck and upper body portion.

The other injuries were said to be "defense wounds" that showed how the victim struggled to fight off his assailant.

The killing was estimated to have occurred between 7:30 to 9 in the morning inside Room 216 of the Punta Villa Beach Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Juada was in town for a seminar on Early Childhood Care.

He was last seen about 7 a.m. that fatal day in a quick breakfast where resort guests and staff told probers he was on his mobile phone for the most part either talking or texting.

The 57 year-old DepEd executive was naked and bathed in his own blood when cops from Police Precinct 6 (Arevalo Police Precinct) were called in. P/Insp. Harry Decena, PP6 chief said hair samples and fingerprints were taken from the crime scene.

In an interview over Bombo Radyo, Insp. Decena also added that among the missing belongings and valuables of the victim include the mobile phone, his ring and the cash inside his wallet.

The News Today learned that police are eyeing only one suspect, possibly medium to heavy in built given the pattern of the multiple stab wounds inflicted. Further reports gathered by probers disclosed of a male companion said to be a student of the marine school in the area who was reportedly seen in the company of the victim late Tuesday evening.

Asked of the possibility that said unidentified male could have spent the night and even remained in Room 216 prior to the killing, Insp. Decena quipped in same radio interview, "yes, possible."

Such alongside additional information received by the police from occupants of Room 215 who recalled hearing some kind of argument early morning of that fatal day. There was some yelling, reports said though it came muffled with the loud volume of the television in the background.

With robbery as among the clear motive now, investigators hope to get a full picture of what led to the violent killing, confident of a break "in the soonest time."

Incidentally, Punta Villa Beach Resort is owned and run by the family of Supt. Efren Quintos, Director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office(IPPO). As such, expectations are high that the crime will be resolved in days. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) provided augmentation to the ongoing investigation.