PUP prof slay case: Suspect gone, mom held for ‘cover-up’

The police are set to file murder charges against the pedicab driver last seen with a Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) professor who was later found dead at his Pasay City condominium Wednesday night.

Chief Insp. Rolando Baula, the chief investigator, said Jerome Salin of Barangay Sto. Niño, Pasay, had gone into hiding after confessing to his mother that he had killed someone.

Salin was tagged the suspect in the killing of Isagani Sta. Maria, 57, based mainly on descriptions given by the condo security guards. Three hours before the crime was discovered, the professor was brought home on a pedicab and the driver was later seen leaving the compound in a hurry, they said.

Investigators initially considered robbery the motive, noting that Sta. Maria’s wallet and mobile phone were missing when the body was found in a pool of blood by his friends at his unit at One Metropolitan Place in Barangay 153. A 9-inch kitchen knife lay next to the victim.

But Baula noted signs that a heated argument broke out first: “If you look at the manner of execution, the suspect was really angry. The victim had five fatal wounds and a long slit in the neck.”

According to Baula, Salin had admitted killing someone in a phone call to his mother, Rebecca, and asked her to change the appearance of his pedicab, which she also uses to sell banana cue.

The woman apparently did as she was told because the pedicab was already dismantled when the police went to the Salins’ house. A part of it was found in a trash can nearby.

Baula said Rebecca was placed under arrest for “trying to cover up for her son” and was charged with obstruction of justice on Friday.

The mother claimed that her son had fled to Iloilo province, “but we don’t believe her,” the officer said.