Laguna murder suspect tags victim’s husband as brains

SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna — One of the suspects in the grisly murders of a young mother and her one-year-old son here has identified the victim’s husband as the mastermind of the killings.Ramoncito Gallo, 25, turned himself in to village chair Celso Dioko of Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, around 11 a.m. Friday.

In an interview past 12 a.m. Saturday (Mar. 19), Dioko said Gallo owned up participation in the murder of Pearl Helene Sta. Ana, 29, and her son, Denzel, who were slain inside their house in Barangay Labas on March 2.

The two were reportedly hit by a hammer by two men who posed as Internet repairmen to get inside the victims’ house.

“He (Gallo) said he decided to surrender because he was bothered by his conscience,” Dioko told the INQUIRER.

According to Dioko, the suspect also admitted that they were hired by a man they called “boss” to kill the victims, denying earlier reports that robbery was the motive in the murders.

“He said they were paid P60,000 for the ‘project,’” he said.

When asked about the identity of the “boss,” Dioko said Gallo told him it was the victim’s husband, Richard, who was earlier tagged as a “person of interest” in the crime.

“He said the killing was a ‘project.’ He said the man they called ‘boss’ wanted to exact revenge at the victim,” the village chair said.

Asked why Richard would want his wife and son killed, he said: “(Gallo) said they were told the victim was having an affair.”

As of press time, Gallo has been taken under the custody of the city police office.  SFM