Authorities arrested a suspect in the brutal killing of Jang Lucero, a lady driver from Laguna, the Calabarzon police said Tuesday.
The suspect was identified as Ann Sheila Montes Belarmino. Witnesses through the CCTV footage identified her as one of the suspects in the killing of the 34-year-old victim.
Authorities said Belarmino was arrested on July 3 for murder. She was now detained at the Calamba City Police Station with no recommendation of bail.
Authorities meanwhile are conducting follow-up operations to locate and arrest the other five suspects involved in the crime.
Jang Lucero was found dead inside her car with 52 stab wounds inside her vehicle on Bypass Road in Calamba. She was laid to rest yesterday, July 6.
Earlier reports said Lucero and her girlfriend, Meyah Amatorio, personally knew those who were involved in the crime.
“Kilalalang kilala niya [she really knows them],” Police Lieutenant Colonel Gene Licud, chief of the Calamba Police Station, said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
When asked if Lucero’s girlfriend also knew the persons involved, Lucid replied, “Kilala din po [she also knows them].”
Also read: CHR condemns killing of Ilocos Sur teen
Not just a crime of passion
Police said what happened to Jang was not just a crime of passion but a planned one.
Calamba police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Gene Licud earlier said the crime could be premeditated.
“Kasama’ yan sa ating mga assumptions, na ito ay pinagplanuhan dahil sa pagsasagawa naman ng isang krimen ay aside from the crime of passion, pinagpaplanuhan. Hindi lang ito ‘yung biglang outburst,” said Licud.
(That is also included in our assumptions, that this crime is premeditated. That aside from the crime of passion, this was planned. It’s not just the sudden outburst.)
Lucero sustained 52 stab wounds, mostly in the chest area, the authorities said.
There was also an indication that the suspect stabbed Lucero from the back of her car. The victim also sustained defense wounds, which indicated she fought.
Authorities are studying various possible motives for the crime, including a love triangle, robbery, and revenge.