NBI ordered to conduct own probe of Bulacan massacre

Construction worker Carmelino Ibañez inside a police station in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan province, after confessing to the massacre of members of the Carlos family and being addicted to drugs. Tests, however, showed he was negative for drug use. —INQUIRER PHOTO

The National Bureau of Investigation has been ordered to conduct a parallel probe into the brutal killing of three children, their mother and grandmother in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan province.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said his directive to the NBI was prompted by the request of some individuals whom he declined to identify.

He issued Department Order No. 446 instructing NBI Director Dante Gierran to submit a progress report on the investigation into the killings of Estrella Carlos, her mother Aurora Dizon and Carlos’ three children.

Second look

“I don’t want to do it, but some people wanted the NBI to take a second look at the findings [of the police],” Aguirre told reporters.

Asked who made the request, he replied: “There are many. They did not approach me. They only called and sent text messages. They were concerned people.”

“I hope they will be satisfied,” he added.

Bank security guard Dexter Carlos found his mother-in-law, wife and three children dead and bloodied from knife attacks when he went home at North Ridge Subdivision in San Jose del Monte City.
He found Estrella, his wife, naked outside the house. His three children — Donny, 11, Ella, 7, and Dexter Jr., 1 — were found dead in a room.

Police had tagged several persons of interest in the case and had taken custody of a suspect, Carmelino Ibañez, a 26-year-old construction worker who had confessed to the killing and addiction to drugs.