Suspect in killing of Picache’s mom claims he was just a ‘lookout’

FLORES

MANILA, Philippines–The arrested suspect in the killing of Zenaida Sison, the mother of actress Cherry Pie Picache, claimed that he acted only as a lookout and that he had two other companions when the crime was allegedly committed, police said.

Michael Flores, 29, was arrested about 1 a.m. on Wednesday inside a subdivision in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, said Senior Supt Florendo Saligao, Laguna police director.

Saligao said the police received around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday a tip from a concerned citizen who recognized Flores from media reports as a suspect in the brutal killing.

In a phone interview, Supt. Pergentino Malabed, Sta. Rosa City police chief, said Flores was visiting old friends inside the Garden Villas 3 subdivision in Barangay (village) Malusak when he was arrested.

He said Flores used to work as a helper in a salon in Sta. Rosa City but his voter’s ID showed that he was a resident of Barangay San Vicente in San Pedro City, also in Laguna.

“He was just outside the house and it seemed he was surprised when he was arrested by the police. He did not resist,” Malabed said.

Flores, however, told the police that he was just a “lookout” and that two other companions carried out the killing, according to Malabed.

Sison, 75, was found dead with stab wounds and head injuries inside her house in Barangay Paligsahan in Quezon City on September 19.

Flores used to be one of Sison’s helpers in her home.

Flores was immediately turned over to the Quezon City Police District for further investigation, Malabed said.