PNP files murder against suspect in Ledesco slay
Investigators of La Paz Police Station already filed a murder charge against the suspects in the gruesome slay of a 72-year old woman living in her upscale Ledesco Village home in La Paz, Iloilo City.
La Paz PNP chief Chief Insp. Giovanni Musico revealed that they filed the case against Paul Winston Tan and his unidentified companion Wednesday afternoon before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office.
Tan is the adopted son of the youngest sister of victim Lolitan Chan, a retired US employee.
Police have three witnesses in pinning Tan in his aunt’s murder.
However, it was noted that the three all gave circumstantial testimonies.
Two of the three witnesses are Jimmy Solorio of the Oasis Pure Drinking Water and Ledesco Village security guard Rolly Gumban – who identified Tan through the photos presented to them.
Solorio narrated that at around 4:00 in the afternoon, or barely two hours before the discovery of the victim’s body, he and another companion delivered mineral water to Chan’s house at Block 13, Lot 46, Ledesco Village.
Before they leave Chan’s residence, Solorio claimed to have seen Tan ringing the doorbell.
Gumban, in his own affidavit, claimed that he was doing his round when he also Tan pressing the doorbell outside Chan’s house.
A neighbor’s helper allegedly heard the conversation of Tan and Chan until the victim’s voice raise several minutes later.
But the said household help is yet to sign a sworn statement.
“Maayo pa ni kuno ila istoryahanay tapos hinali lang nga nagtaas ang boses sang biktima kag nag bais-bais. Sang ulihi, nabatyagan niya nga nag-aragoy na ang biktima,” said investigator SPO3 Jessie Cabial.
The investigator added that Tan might got irked after the victim did not give him to what he asked for.
It was gathered that Prosecutor Ferdinand Magallanes will schedule a preliminary investigation for the case.
It is expected that Tan would appear before Magallanes.
If not, the prosecution would pass a resolution, which might ascertain if there is a probable cause for the filing of the murder charge.
Meanwhile, Musico said that their pinning hopes that the latent prints obtained at the crime scene would match that of Tan’s fingerprints.
Relatedly, police confirmed that several operations in order to locate Tan proved negative.
Reports came out that the suspect sought refuge in Negros Island.
Member of Chan’s family also claimed not to have Tan since May 15.
To note, driver Victor Magtulis discovered the victim’s body at around 5:30 p.m. of May 19.
Chan, a spinster, was already slumped at their doorstep and was bathing on her pool of blood when their driver discovered her body.
She succumbed to two stab wounds on her nape. The cut portion of the knife was still embedded at the victim’s nape when found.
Some of the things inside the house were already in disarray and several drawers were left opened when investigators arrived.
