Case vs suspects in Tan murder readied

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is fine tuning the case to be filed against four suspects in the killing of businesswoman Rose Gustilo-Tan and her personal aide Purificacion Catoera.

C/Supt. Cipriano Querol, Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director, said the ICPO headed by S/Supt. Dennis Basngi has gathered circumstantial evidence that will point to the culpability of the suspects.

“We are tying up the loose ends and completing the puzzle so we can present a strong case even if the pieces of evidence are circumstantial. The investigators are raring to file the case but we want to make sure that we have an airtight case,” Querol said.

Querol said the case could be filed anytime soon once they have buttressed the facts and findings of the ICPO’s Task Force Rose Tan.

Tan, 69, and Catoera, 29, were last seen alive October 10 while attending mass at the University of San Augustin chapel.

Catoera was found inside a sack in Dumangas, Iloilo October 11 while Tan was found under a bed of Queen’s Court Motel October 13.

Basngi said they are consulting with the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office to determine if they have a strong case against the suspects.

One of the suspects has gone missing since October 11.

Based on initial information from investigators, the missing suspect borrowed millions of pesos from Tan and the two had an argument three days before the victims went missing.

Basngi said they have been briefing Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, who is a relative of Tan, on the developments of their investigation.

Mabilog urged the suspects to surface and surrender before it’s too late.

The mayor said the police have “ways and means” to find the suspect and bring them before the bar of justice.

Tan’s family has also sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in solving the case. (With reports from LCPendon)