Slain DJ’s ashes to fertilize tree

CEBU, Philippines — A day after a criminal complaint was filed against her alleged attacker, the body of slain disc jockey Marie Alexi “Maxi” Bolongaita was cremated yesterday, and part of her ashes will be used as fertilizer just as she had wished.

Her father, Alex Bolongaita, said some of Maxi’s remains will be scattered at the ancestral home of her mother in Sibonga town, southern Cebu.

“Because her classmates, her friends will plant a tree and it will be sprinkled there (in Sibonga) as fertilizer…because that’s what my daughter had wanted,” Bolongaita said.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office will be filing robbery with homicide charges against the suspect in the fatal shooting of Maxi, identified as Renante Mambiar Mendador, 26, resident of Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

During the inquest proceeding on Tuesday, Mendador opted not to undergo further investigation. Instead, he manifested to face the charges in court.

In the complaint, caretaker Ritchie Lastimoso alleged that at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, his usual time to turn on the faucet, he heard “knocking sounds” outside Maxi’s apartment at Sitio Nivel Hills, Barangay Busay.

Lastimoso said he went out of his room and unexpectedly saw a man clinging on the terrace railing of Maxi’s room.

The man, later identified as Mendador, jumped off from the railing and hastily rode his motorcycle parked across the apartment.

Lastimoso reported the incident before the barangay hall of Busay and sought for police assistance.

Later that day, Maxi was found dead inside her apartment.

Sought for comment on Mendador’s arrest, Bolongaita’s father said: “Nothing has changed, I’m just glad that our legal system is functioning well.”

He added: “I’m glad but I cannot be happy. How can I be happy when my daughter is f***ing dead?”

Mendador first told police that he was Renante Mendador Mambiar. He was charged for a theft case back in 2002, and recently posted bail for his charge of possession of illegal drugs last August.

“Mao na iya gigamit sa kaso didto sa Station 1 (Parian Police Station). Pero tan-aw namo iya rang himo-himo to hide his real identity actually. Usahay gani mogawa nga iya apelyido Mambiar, and middle name Mendador, iya i-mix-mix,” said Superintendent Ryan Devaras, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB).

Devaras added they were able to confirm that suspect was also behind some burglary incidents in Busay, and are still confirming he was the same person who has been tagged as “Gagamboy” in some areas of Minglanilla.

“Usa na siya sa gitumbok sa Barangay Busay as suspect sa laing incident. Depende, kay palipat-lipat man sad ni siya og balay. Dili man ni siya mag-permanente. Criminal instinct,” Devaras said.

The suspect, who suffered wounds during the attack, is expected to recover within the week. He is currently detained at the Cebu City Police Office, pending an order for him to be committed at the Cebu City Jail. (FREEMAN)