Tan family absolves kins in murder, says lawyer
Iloilo City -- Atty. Leonardo Jiz, legal counsel and spokesperson of the Tan family, on Monday belied the rumors implicating the sons of murder victim Francisco "Bobby" Tan in the gruesome killings.
In media interviews Jiz said the Tan family is fully in support of siblings Archie and John Michael. He said "the family believes the two (Archie and John Michael) are not capable of committing such crime."
Jiz was referring to the rumors implicating Tan's sons by first marriage Archie and John Michael to the death of their father, stepmother Cindy and half-sister Cathy.
Jiz said everybody from the family knew the movements of the victim's sons. He did not elaborate more on the rumors implicating Tan's sons.
He also denied the statement made by security guard Rommel Loveriza that Archie incurred a debt on one of his friends after losing in a basketball bet.
He ruled out rumors that it could be one of the motives of the crime. Jiz said, Tan's children could simply ask money from their father.
Jiz speculated that two to three suspects could have committed the murder basing on the number of stab wounds inflicted on the victims.
However, he said these are mere speculations because the floor of the house is carpeted and the footprints of the suspects could not be traced.
The lawyer suspects robbery or vengeance could be the motives in the massacre. He said vengeance could be a possible angle in the killings as shown on the manner by which the three victims were killed.
He said, the killers knew where to hit the victims. However, Jiz could not categorically say who among Tan's clients, friends or enemies have the reason to revenge.
Jiz disclosed that on initial accounting, only Bobby's Rolex men's watch amounting from P800,000 to P900,000 was lost. It was bought by the victim in 2000.
He said it was the consensus of the family not to subject the victims' bodies in an autopsy. This is to preserve their bodies in relation to the Chinese tradition. He said the police also understands the decision of family of the victims.
The lawyer also expects the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) to end the gathering of the evidence by Tuesday as the Sumagpao Funeral Homes are set to bring the bodies to Tan's residence on Wednesday.
The families should be given the time to mourn to the dead members of the family, said Jiz.