PNP arrests suspects in killing of ex-solon, two others

January 23, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said the killing of former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza, his bodyguard and aide is ''considered solved'' after they were able to identify the mastermind and arrest five suspects.

In a press briefing, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP chief, said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed an information for three counts of murder against six suspects before the Calamba City Prosecutor’s Office.

“Five suspects are presently under custody while another suspect is at-large and is now the subject of manhunt operations in coordination with local PNP Units,” he said.

“By our own parameters on crime solution and crime clearance, this case is considered solved and is now elevated to the prosecution arm of the justice system,” he added.

In the same briefing, Police Major General Joel Coronel, CIDG director, identified the primary suspects as Sherwin Sanchez and Arthur Fajardo, both detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Coronel said Mendoza, a lawyer, was supposed to meet with representatives of his client, Sanchez, in Calamba for him to collect money a day before the burned vehicle were found in Tiaong, Quezon.

“We were able to trace his itinerary and agenda coming from his residence in Lipa, Batangas. He went to Calamba City to meet with some people. Based also on the information provided by the relatives of the family, he was supposed to meet this people pertaining cases he was handling them as a practicing lawyer involving transactions concerning money and real property,” Coronel said.

“Based on the information we have gathered and statement of witnesses, the victim was ordered killed upon the instruction of principal suspect, Sherwin Sanchez, who was presently detained at New Bilibid Prison,” he added.

The CIDG director said Sanchez conspired with another detainee, Fajardo, a member of Fajardo Kidnapping Group in killing the victim.

“Sanchez asked Fajardo for persons who can be hired to carry out the killing of the victim,” he said.

Coronel said through their follow-up operation, they were able to arrest five suspects, including the wife of Fajardo, Jael Fajardo, who surrendered to the authorities.

The arrested suspects were identified as Kristine Fernandez, Madonna Palermo, Carlo Acuña and Erickson Balbastro. All are now under police custody.

Another suspect identified as Rodel Mercado remains at large and subject of a manhunt.

Prior to the killing, Balbastro, Acuña, and Mercado were previously detained at Batangas Provincial Jail and were released through bail or provisional case dismissal.

First to be arrested was Fernandez after they were able to trace the house where the incident transpired. Fernandez is the caretaker of Jael’s house and the one who gave the coffee with drugs to the victims.

Coronel said the security guard of the subdivision confirmed the victims went inside on January 8.

“We have confirmed with the security guard of that subdivision that the vehicle of Mendoza, even the aide of his driver, Nicanor Mendoza were presented to the security guard and placed in the logbook. Based on that information, we found out it was Kristine, caretaker of the house of Jael Fajardo was the one who provided us the details to follow up the case resulting to the arrest of the other suspects,” he said

He added Balbastro personally killed, burned, and transport the victims in Quezon based on the CCTV footages they gathered.

“Based on revelations made by Balbastro, he admitted that initially (former) Congressman Mendoza with two companions upon arriving at the house of Jael Fajardo were drugged by the victims. They were given coffee with sleeping pills, apparently. After the effects of the drug has worn of, they were stabbed and on the process also struck by hard objects causing their death,” Coronel said.

Coronel said Mendoza and his two aides were dead when their vehicle was burned on January 9.

Further investigation revealed the incident allegedly stemmed from the unfulfilled promises of Mendoza regarding the murder case of Sanchez and financial matters.

“I understand there was a disagreement on the amount to be collected and also based on the revelations made by the witnesses and some of the suspects themselves in the confession. There was really no intentions on the part of the suspects to pay the amount agreed by them so instead of paying the amount, they just contracted killers for the killing of Mendoza for the sum of P100, 000,” the CIDG director said.

Coronel said according to Balbastro, they only received a down payment of P10,000.

He said the victim’s family invoked attorney-client privilege information that’s why they did not disclose the details of the relationship between Mendoza and the suspects.

“But I understand, the services of Attorney Mendoza was hired by these two (Sherwin Sanchez and Arthur Fajardo) for several transactions,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the PNP- Crime Laboratory confirmed that the charred bodies found inside a burnt vehicle in Tiaong,Quezon were those of  Mendoza, his bodyguard and driver.  Ella Dionisio/DMS