2 suspects in robbery-slay of Sta. Cruz store owner, daughter, ID’d through Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Two of the suspects in the Oct. 27 robbery in Manila that killed a businessman and his daughter were identified by a witness through their Facebook social networking accounts, according to a sworn statement filed at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Charges of robbery with homicide have been filed last week against the four arrested suspects in the killing of Onofre Cruz, 53, a native of Pulilan, Bulacan, and his daughter Sierra Gutierrez, 27, during a robbery at their diaper store on Felix Huertas Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

One of the suspects said the diaper store robbery was the third criminal activity he did with the group.

Assistant City Prosecutor Francisco Salomon recommended the filing of charges with no bail against Kenneth Soto, 20; Juvonne “Bunso” Tolentino, 25; Barhain “Baring” Francisco, 26, and Paul Ryan Lomboy, 25.

The witness said in a statement that he was on his way to his mother’s store when he saw two men on motorcycles stop at the diaper store. Then a man wearing a white sando came out of the store. He and a stout man posted outside got on the motorcycles, the witness said. He further saw a young slim man got on one of the motorcycles.

Police were able to identify the man in the sleeveless shirt as “Acol,” who remained at large, as of Sunday, while Francisco and Lomboy were the drivers of the get-away vehicles.

Through some Facebook profiles opened by a police informant, the witness identified Tolentino as the stout man while Soto as the slim one. The

statement of Lomboy, who turned witness, backed up the first witness’ account.

Lomboy admitted he was working with Soto, Tolentino and Acol about three months and they stole two motorcycles in Taytay, Rizal. In September, he said they also held up a woman along Araneta Avenue and took her laptop, cell phone and money.

In Soto’s defense, two CDs containing video footage at his residence, which also houses their bakery business, were submitted to the police showing that he was at his house before, during and after the robbery. Soto also said in his counteraffidavit that he was cleared of carjacking charge in Quezon City.