Suspect in murder of Malabon employee, son surrenders

MANILA, Philippines - A man surrendered yesterday and confessed to participating in killing a Malabon City government employee and his son last Wednesday.

Anthony Sernechez, 26, sought refuge at his uncle’s house in Caloocan City. His uncle, a barangay watchman, in turn asked the help of Barangay 8 chairman Teben Cunanan.

Sernechez’s uncle, who asked not be identified, said his nephew did not want to surrender to the Malabon police “because he feared for his safety.”

Cunanan brought Sernechez to the Caloocan police, which facilitated his transfer to the Malabon police.

Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III earlier offered a P100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects in the killing of Ferlizardo Coralde, 46 and his son Albert, 20.

Bong Padua, Malabon public information chief, said the informant will receive the reward.

Mastermind

During interrogation, Sernechez identified Aries Santos, a relative of the Coraldes, as the one who allegedly masterminded the robbery that led to the killings.

Coralde, a record officer of the city civil registry, and his son were found hogtied, their throats slit, in their respective bedrooms.

Sernechez told police Santos convinced him to rob the Coraldes’ house.

“He never said we were going to kill the victims. He just told me that we were just going to rob the house,” he said. 

He said he hogtied the Coraldes upon the order of Santos, who reportedly later decided they “would have to kill them after the son recognized him.”

A source said the Malabon police has launched a manhunt for Santos.