Two alleged car theft gang leaders, Roger and Raymond Dominguez, had been tagged by investigators as the masterminds behind the abduction and killing of Venson Evangelista, a car dealer.
Evangelista went missing in Quezon City after allowing two men to test drive his Toyota Land Cruiser on Jan. 13. His charred body was found the next day in Barangay Buliran in Cabanatuan City.
A week later, Alfredo Mendiola and Ferdinand Parolan surrendered to the police and confessed knowledge of the crime. They pointed to the Dominguez brothers as the masterminds, and gave information that led police to an apartment allegedly used by the group.
Raymond turned himself in on Jan. 22. He denied that he and his brother were involved in the murder.
On Feb. 10, Roger fell in the hands of the police after committing a traffic violation in Quezon City. He was arrested with a companion, Jason Miranda.
On the same day, the charcoal-gray Toyota Land Cruiser that Evangelista last used was recovered in the Marketplace mall on Kalentong Street, Mandaluyong City.
28 criminal cases
Car theft and homicide charges were filed against the Dominguez brothers, with Mendiola, Parolan and Miranda as coaccused, in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
On April 11, the Dominguez brothers pleaded not guilty before Judge Ma. Luisa Q. Padilla. Miranda and Mendoza did not enter any plea, prompting the judge to enter a plea of not guilty on their behalf.
Mendiola was later admitted to the witness protection program as a star witness in the case.
The Dominguez brothers are facing at least 28 criminal cases in various courts in Bulacan and Pampanga since 2007. Records showed the cases mostly involved car theft, robbery, violation of the election gun ban and illegal drugs.Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research