NBP prisoners ordered killing of ex-solon due to ‘money problems’ — CIDG

Diagram of suspects in the killing of former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza. Photo from PNP-PIO

MANILA, Philippines — Two of the seven suspects arrested for the killing of former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza were found to be convicts of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said Thursday.

Last Jan. 9, Mendoza and his two companions — his driver, Ruel Ruiz, and his bodyguard Nicanor Mendoza —  were found dead inside his car after it was set on fire in Tiaong, Quezon.

At a press conference in Camp Crame, acting PNP-CIDG chieg Brig. Gen. Joel Coronel identified the suspects as Sherwin Sanchez, convicted for murder in 2015, and Arthur Fajardo, who was convicted of kidnapping for ransom.

Other suspects were identified as Kristine Fernandez; Madonna Palermo; Carlo Acuña; and Erickson Balbastro. The fifth suspect, identified as Jael Fajardo, the wife of Arthur, surrendered to authorities.

Coronel said their initial investigation showed that Sanchez, who is being considered as the mastermind in the killing, was a client of Mendoza when the latter was still a practicing lawyer. Mendoza was previously tapped by Sanchez to handle money and real property matters.

“I understand there was a disagreement on the amount to be collected… Apparently on the day Cong. Mendoza disappeared, and later on found dead, he was supposed to collect a sum of money from representatives of the principal suspect (Sanchez),” Coronel said.

Based on initial investigations, police said it appeared that there really was no intention on the part of suspects to pay Mendoza the agreed the amount. Instead of paying the amount owed to Mendoza, Sanchez allegedly hired contract killers to dispose of Mendoza.

Coronel said they are now conducting manhunt operation to arrest another suspect identified as Rodel Mercado, a contract killer. Police are also conducting follow-up operations to track down two other cohorts.

He said the suspects will face a a case of three counts of murder that was referred to the Department of Justice.

How Mendoza died

Based on testimonies of witnesses, Coronel narrated that on Jan. 8, Mendoza was asked to go to Calamba, Laguna for a meet-up regarding the payment for his legal services.

Mendoza and his two companions headed to the house of Jael located along Barangay Prinza in Calamba City at 1:03 p.m. After a few minutes, Jael and Palermo, a househelp gave the victims coffee with sleeping pills.

Afterwards, cohorts Acuña, Balbastro and Mercado then placed the heavily drugged victims inside their own vehicle and stabbed the victims to death.

The victims were then transferred to the Honda Civic, owned by Mendoza, and were brought to San Juan, Batangas. The car, bearing the victims’ bodies was later set on fire along San Francisco Bridge in Tiaong, Quezon.

Edited by EDV