The suspects were identified by the PNP as Mayor’s childhood friend, 22-year-old Zander Dela Cruz, alias “Dugong”; 30-year-old Joel Loyola, alias “Nonoy Sablay”; and 34-year-old Richard Elvin Araza, alias “Tiago.”
They were arrested on Saturday, four days after the slay and two days after Mayor’s body was found at a vacant lot in Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, said Elmer Monsalve, the chief of the QC police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
Dela Cruz was tagged by a witness as the last person seen with Mayor. He was invited for a police interview as a person of interest, but Monsalve said he later confessed to the crime and named the two other accused.
What happened?
According to the CIDU chief, Mayor had been invited by Dela Cruz to hang out with him, Loyola and Araza at Brgy. Payatas on early morning of Tuesday, May 18. At that time, the victim didn’t know the two other suspects.
Mayor had also been to a drinking session with Dela Cruz and other friends the day before, he added.
“Mga 2:30 a.m., nung pauwi na sila, bigla nalang sinikmuraan nitong Nonoy Sablay (Loyola) itong biktima [At around 2:30 a.m., when they were about to head home, Nonoy Sablay suddenly hit the victim in the gut],” Monsalve said.
The suspects reportedly brought Mayor to the vacant lot in the adjacent barangay, where they sexually assaulted him. Monsalve said Mayor resisted, prompting one of the perpetrators to silence him by hitting his head with a rock.
The body was found two days later, in the afternoon of May 20, and was identified by a relative. Monsalve described the face as barely recognizable due to the physical trauma. The skull was broken, he said.
What has been done?
Rape with homicide and robbery cases were filed against the three before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday.
Upon arrest, the PNP said they found the victim’s mobile phone in the possession of Araza. A gun was also recovered from Loyola, who now also faces a complaint for illegal possession of firearm.
The suspects also underwent drug testing, and the results are expected to be released either on Sunday or Monday. According to Monsalve, both Dela Cruz and Loyola previously served jail time over illegal drug charges.
Hate crime?
A number of LGBTQ+ groups have earlier called for an investigation into what they tagged as a “hate crime” against the transgender man. PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar said they are looking into this possibility.
“Isa rin ‘yan sa iniimbestigahan natin [That’s also one angle we’re investigating],” he said. “You know, not only the LGBTQ+ community is condemning this, lahat tayo [all of us] should condemn this.”
QC Mayor Joy Belmonte also denounced the “senseless and barbaric act” against the 21-year-old.
“This type of violence has no space in a civilized society where everyone is treated equally and with utmost respect,” Belmonte said, vowing they will “leave no stone unturned until justice is served.”
Quezon City is among the first in the country to pass and implement a Gender Fair Ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
“We encourage members of the LGBT sector who are experiencing violence and harassment to report via Hotline 122 for immediate action or seek temporary refuge in our QC Protection Center if the need arises,” the local government said in a statement.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 23) — The Philippine National Police on Sunday said it has filed rape with homicide and robbery cases against three individuals, including the victim’s childhood friend, over the brutal killing of 21-year-old trans man Ebeng Mayor.
