Bolongaita killing; robbery, homicide raps for suspect

CEBU, Philippines — The suspect in the murder of disc jockey Marie Alexi Ortiz Bolongaita, who was found dead inside her apartment in Barangay Busay, Cebu City, last September 21, has been charged for robbery with homicide.

Senior Police Officer 2 Rommel Bancog filed the complaint against Renante Mambiar Mendador, 36, past 4 p.m. before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor together with his colleagues and the victim’s parents.

Bolongaita, 29, who also worked as a call center agent and was a former Miss Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, was found dead last Thursday in Unit 2 Busay Villas, Sitio Plaza Ville in Busay.

In his affidavit, apartment caretaker Ritchie Lastimoso said around 3 a.m. that day, he heard knocking outside. Since it was his usual time to turn on the water, he left his room and saw a man clinging on the terrace railing of the victim’s room.

Lastimoso then shouted “Hoy, kawatan!”

The man, later identified as Mendador, a resident of Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, jumped from the railing. Lastimoso said he saw the bloodied face of Mendador, who threatened to kill him if he was followed. Mendador then rode off in his motorcycle which was parked across the apartment.

Lastimoso reported the incident to the Busay barangay hall and sought for police assistance. Bolongaita was later found dead inside her apartment.

Policemen later traced the suspect to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he was admitted sustaining a gunshot wound and several injuries after Bolongaita resisted the robbery.

Lastimoso positively identified Mendador as the same person he saw in the terrace of Bolongaita.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office Investigation and Detective Management Branch encouraged other victims of Mendador to file a complaint against him after reports of his other alleged crimes came up.

“Mao na amo gihuwat nga naa’y mo-file og case against him, to prepare the case folder, para sa karagdagang mga kaso ni Reynante,” said Superintendent Ryan Devaras, chief of the IDMB.

Devaras said the results of the paraffin test on the suspect are still pending, while the firearm allegedly used to kill Bolongaita is still being sought.

Devaras added that witnesses to the crime are welcome to request for the Witness Protection Program if they feels uncertain of their safety.

“We assured the witness, nga motabang ang police sa iyang security. He can be under the Witness Protection Program under the Department of Justice. Amo lang i-encourage to participate sa filing of case, siya man gud ang key gud,” Devaras said. (FREEMAN)