MANILA, Philippines — The murder of 27-year-old mother Jennifer Taporado was not a case of extrajudicial killing after investigation showed that the prime suspect was a drug syndicate leader with whom her slain husband had dealings, a police official said.
Caloocan police chief investigator Sr. Inspector Felipe Fermin Jr. yesterday belied reports that the killing of Mrs. Taporada last Wednesday night by motorcycle-riding assailants was a case of summary killing in the city known as a hotbed of notorious contract killers.
“This is not a case of extrajudicial killing. Our investigation showed that this was a common crime of murder,” the police officer said.
Witnesses said the leader of a criminal syndicate involved in drugs was behind the killings of Mrs. Taporada as well as that of her husband Bryan, who was murdered and tortured with his eyes gouged out and his private parts cut off last year.