Police investigators are looking into the issue of money as a possible motive in the murder of former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza early this month, with police authorities saying the case was considered solved.
At a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group acting director Brig. Gen. Joel Coronel said the main suspect in the slay of Mendoza was one of the victim’s former client identified as Sherwin Sanchez.
Sanchez is detained at the New Bilibid Prison on murder charges.
According to PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa the case was already solved.
“The CIDG has filed an information for three counts of murder against the six suspects before the Calamba City Prosecutor’s Office,” Gamboa said.
“This case is considered solved and is now elevated to the prosecution arm of the justice system,” Gamboa added.
Mendoza’s vehicle was found burned in Tiaong last Jan. 9.
Investigators found the bodies of the three victims at the back seat of the vehicle.
Authorities earlier said the suspects brought Mendoza’s car to a desolated bridge in Tiaong, Quezon before it was gutted down.
Coronel said Mendoza, a lawyer, was supposed to collect money from Sanchez’s camp. But the latter had really no intention of paying him.
“On the day Congressman Mendoza disappeared, he was supposed to collect money from representatives of the principal suspect in Calamba City,” Coronel said.
“I understand there was a disagreement on the amount to be collected and, based on the revelations by the witnesses and the suspects… there was really no intention on the part of the suspects to pay the amount agreed (on) by them,” he added.
Based on the probe, Coronel said Sanchez just coordinated with another detainee, Arthur Fajardo, to hire men who would kill the former lawmaker.
Coronel said Fajardo contacted his wife, Jael Fajardo, to contact the killers.
“Instead of paying the amount amounting to millions of pesos, they just contracted killers for the killing of Congressman Mendoza for the sum of P100,000,” Coronel said.
Coronel said the victims were lured to proceed to the residence of Jael in Calamba City to get the money.
But the victims were instead served coffee with sleeping pills.
After that, the unconscious victims were carried inside their vehicle where they were brutally killed by the suspects.
“Apparently, after the effects of the drugs have worn off, they were stabbed and struck by hard objects in the head, causing their death,” Coronel said.
Coronel said the companions of Mendoza, driver Ruel Ruiz and bodyguard Nicanor Mendoza, were “collateral damage” in the crime.
On Wednesday, Coronel announced the arrest of five suspects on the crime.
Aside from Jael, the other suspects were later identified as Kristine Fernandez, Madonna Palermo, Carlo Acuña and Erickson Balbastro.
Another suspect, identified as Rodel Mercado, is still at large.
Police said Acuña, Balbastro and Mercado had previous criminal cases and were previously detained at the Batangas Provincial Jail.