Man tagged in starlet’s rape-slay falls

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged robbery gang member, identified as one of five men who raped and killed Viva Hot Babes member Scarlet Garcia and three others in Olongapo City in 2008, was arrested in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

Jay-R Mojica, whose aliases include John Robert and Ariel Santos, was apprehended by members of the city police’s anti-vice unit as he was buying cigarettes at a neighborhood store on Olivares street in Barangay Barangka Ibaba.

Mojica is the subject of arrest warrants for theft, five counts of rape and two counts of robbery with violence and intimidation, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Tyrone Masigon.

Among the cases filed against Mojica is for the rape and killing of Garcia and her cousin, Rachelle Estacio. Their bodies were found in the bathroom on the second floor of their rented three-story apartment.

Garcia’s partner, George Castro Jr., and Estacio’s boyfriend, Van Mark Mandehas, were found in the living room.

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found when a neighbor reported that their apartment was on fire in March 2008.

The Olongapo City judge handling the Garcia rape-slay case recommended that Mojica be denied bail, according to investigators.

Mojica was also charged for robbing a lawyer, surnamed Macalino, in Pampanga.

Chief Inspector Dominador Ignacio, who heads the Mandaluyong police’s anti-vice unit, said it took them six months of surveillance to confirm Mojica’s true identity.

He said the reported modus operandi of Mojica’s gang is to forcibly enter the victim’s house, rape the female occupants and hogtie them before leaving with the loot.

Mojica chose to remain silent on all the allegations against him.

Masigon said Mojica is in the Mandaluyong City Jail as his men are working to transfer his custody to the Olongapo City judge handling his case.