By Francis Allan L. Angelo
The filing of charges and issuance of arrest warrants against the suspects in the grisly murder of businesswoman Claire Diergos does not mean that the case is now closed.
In a statement, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Col. Adrian Acollador said the latest developments in the case gives the investigators hope to gather more evidence that will pin down other personalities who might be involved in Diergos’s killing.
Acollador made the statement after Rudelyn Sumbong, the victim’s house help, and Raffy Sorioso, a former employee of the Lopez family in San Dionisio, Iloilo, surrendered after the Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Emerald Contreras ordered their arrest on May 2, 2022.
Sumbong, Sorioso, and Gardo Ibrahim, another employee of the Lopezes, were charged for murder by the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on April 18, 2022.
But the prosecutor dismissed the charges against former San Dionisio town mayor Peter Paul Lopez, his wife Saliha Lopez alias Sally, and Peter Paul’s children Felix Paul Lopez, Carlos Paul Lopez, and Christian Paul.
The dismissal, however, will not prejudice the refilling of the charges against any of the Lopezes “should the evidence to support the same becomes available.”
Associate Provincial Prosecutor Shaun Cary M. Acot signed the resolution on April 18, 2022 while Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Edwin M. Sustituya approved the recommendation.
Acollador said the surrender of Sumbong and Sorioso might be key to uncovering new pieces of evidence that would point to the identities of other suspects in the crime.
Police Senior Master Sgt. Francisco Lindero, IPPO information officer and spokesperson, told Daily Guardian that the two suspects could turn state witnesses “if they want to save themselves.”
“It’s one of the possibilities that we can expect in the investigation,” Lindero added.
Acollador said the Pavia Municipal Police Station with the assistance of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit will be tasked to conduct a follow up investigation on the Diergos case.
While her body was found inside her car in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo in October 2021, police considered her house in Pavia town as the primary crime scene after police determined that she was killed in her own room days before she was found dead.
“The SIT [Special Investigation Team] was deactivated after it has accomplished its mission to file the case on January 5; now, the Pavia MPS having the jurisdiction over the primary crime scene shall be taking the lead,” Acollador said.
Acollador added that the surrender of Sumbong and Sorioso will redound to their advantage.
“The soonest they would face the accusation in court, the soonest they could present evidence to counter the charges and prove their innocence,” he said.
Sumbong surrendered on May 9 at the New Lucena MPS, while Sorioso yielded on May 23 to the Criminal Investigation and Detective Unit-Iloilo at San Vicente Village, Leganes, Iloilo.
The court recommended no bail for their temporary release.
Acollador also encouraged Gardo Ibrahim to surrender as well.
