Suspect nabbed in Pasig rape-slay

MANILA, Philippines —  One of five “persons of interest” in the rape and murder of a bank employee in Pasig City was arrested yesterday after his fingerprints were lifted from the victim’s body and cell phone.

Randy Oavenada is now considered a prime suspect in the killing of Mabel Cama, 22, said city police chief Senior Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr.

Fingerprints lifted by Scene of the Crime Operatives from the body of Cama and her mobile phone matched that of Oavenada, who also tested positive for shabu.

When confronted with the findings, Oavenada chose to remain silent, Yebra said.

“We have strong circumstancial evidence against him to warrant the filing of charges in court. We will continue probing this as we strongly believe that the suspect is not alone in this case,” Yebra said in an interview.

The Pasig police chief said it was Oavenada who claimed he saw two people behind Cama while she was texting somebody to open the gate for her.

However, it turned out that those persons Oavenada identified were either asleep or away from the crime scene at the time, he added.

Yebra said they are still trying to determine if the four other persons of interest were involved in the crime. Oavenada and the four other persons of interest have undergone polygraph tests but the results are not yet out.

Yebra said they would file rape with homicide and drug use charges against Oavenada before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office today.

Meanwhile, the reward money for information leading to the arrest of the other suspects has been raised to P100,000, said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director.

Mayor Lourdes Villamonte of Paracale, Camarines Norte offered a P50,000 reward for the solution of Cama’s rape-slay while friends of Yebra also chipped in another P50,000.

Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio is also set to raise the reward money. He will make an announcement during the weekly flag-raising ceremony today.

Cama was found dead in an abandoned office at the former impounding area of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, 40 meters away from their house, which is in the Mega Bus Line compound.

Villamonte owns the bus firm, where Cama’s father works.

Cama’s lower body was set on fire and her shorts, underwear and cell phone were found nearby.