4 suspects in model’s slay fall

MANILA, Philippines – It was a “mysterious” case decrypted by a small piece of paper – a McDonald’s to-go receipt which murder victim Julie Ann Rodelas held in her left hand.

The Quezon City Police District on Sunday announced the arrest of four suspects in the death of Rodelas, 20,  a parttime model who was shot dead and dumped in Cubao last November 6.

“That receipt was our first clue to solving the puzzle,” said Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit teams probing the case.

First to be arrested at 6 p.m. Saturday were model Althea Altamirano and her boyfriend Fernando Quiambao Jr., whose black Mitsubishi Montero was used in Rodelas’ abduction in Pasay City.

In a press conference Sunday, QCPD director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega said the pair was arrested in follow-up operations led by Inspector Elmer Monsalve at the Quiambao ancestral home in Apalit, Pampanga.

The boyfriend was also linked to the takeout purchase at the McDonald’s UN Avenue branch timestamped at 2:33 a.m. of Nov. 6, or two hours after the alleged abduction.

Marcelo explained that video footage from the fastfood restaurant showed Quiambao buying two cheeseburger meals at that time.

He was later identified as Altamirano’s boyfriend who was often seen bringing his girl to her home in Cavite, as confirmed by Altamirano’s relatives and neighbors.

Dela Vega said that based on Altamirano’s statements to media, Quiambao broached the idea of “teaching Rodelas a lesson” for spreading stories that Altamirano had kids, which brought down her commercial value as a model.

Motive

“As of now, the motive we are seeing a deep grudge as a motive. After all, it was Althea Altamirano who gave Jaja (Julie’s nickname) Rodelas her break in the modelling business and now the victim was allegedly spreading rumors,” the police official said.

The Montero car, Altamirano said, was the vehicle used in the abduction. The car with license plate TWO 505 turned out to be registered to Quiambao’s mother.

Police were able to get the license plate from Altamirano’s relatives who said the boyfriend drove a Montero in bringing her home.

Marcelo said operatives have been keeping close watch on Quiambao’s home since Thursday until Saturday morning when his father left home with a change of clothes.

Policemen trailed the father’s black Toyota Innova which went straight to Apalit, Pampanga where the missing couple and the Montero were found.

However, the Montero yielded no guns at all and police are still looking for the 9 mm and caliber .45 pistols used in killing Rodelas.

At past midnight on Sunday, Quiambao accompanied operatives of CIDU and Cubao police station to a community in Barangay (village) Culiat where his alleged accomplice were hiding.

But policemen were met with gunfire upon arriving at the area, sparking a shootout that left a certain Bob Usman dead, and two men arrested for gun possession.

One of the arrested suspects, Jaymar Waradge, 22, who used a 9 mm Ingram machine pistol, was reportedly identified by Quiambao as involved in the abduction. The other man, Gelan Pasewilan, yielded a 9 mm pistol.

Police are still hunting the triggerman and an accomplice.

Case investigators PO2 Jogene Hernandez and SPO1 Jaime Jimena were preparing murder charges against Altamirano, Quiambao and Waradge. Meanwhile, Pasewilan will be charged with illegal possession of firearms.

According to Marcelo, Waradge said Quiambao would drive the Montero throughout the alleged abduction until Jaja was shot dead and dumped at 5 a.m. of Nov. 6 on 18th Avenue, Murphy.

Quiambao reportedly became friends with men from the Muslim compound as he was often seen bringing expensive liquor from home for his friends there.

“He was a regular visitor there. He is somewhat a VIP, a boss there who gets very special treatment,” Dela Vega said.