2 laborers arrested for killing, burying co-worker in Valenzuela lot

Two laborers were arrested on Monday for allegedly killing their coworker during a drunken argument and burying his body on a construction site in Valenzuela City.

Freddie Esplana, 23, and Bernie Monterey, 37, both workers employed by AJS Industrial Corp. in Barangay Punturin also in Valenzuela, are facing murder charges over the death of the victim, who was known at press time only as Michael.

Michael’s body was found under a pile of construction debris on a grassy lot at the AJS compound on Sunday, according to case investigator PO3 Robin Santos.

His head had been bashed in while his body bore multiple stab wounds in the chest, Santos said.

A witness reported the killing to the suspects’ employer, who helped the police track down Esplana and Monterey in San Juan City and Laguna province, respectively.

The witness said that before Micheal was killed, he figured in a drunken argument inside the compound with Esplana, Monterey and another man identified as Reniel Rutaquio, who remains at large.

The witness added that Rutaquio and Esplana attacked Michael with a kitchen knife and, thinking he was already dead, dragged him to the back of the compound.

But when they saw that Michael was still alive, Rutaquio bashed the victim’s head with a hollow block, the witness said.

Recovered from the scene were the hollow block reportedly used to kill Micheal and a tooth believed to be of the victim.