5 SUSPECTS IN JAPANESE KILLING FALL
POLICE operatives arrested five persons linked to the killing of a Japanese in Imus, Cavite on December 29, 2012. Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, identified the arrested suspects as Merlinda Soria alias Melinda Niikura, Gabriel Soria, Mark Anthony Soria, Gil Brown Ilag and Arnold Marcos, the alleged gunman.

Initial investigation showed that Melinda ordered the killing of her husband, Hideo Niikura, 61. Melinda’s son, Mark Anthony and Ilag hired the gunman for P100,000. Chief Insp. Rey Magdaluyo, Cavite CIDG head, said that Melinda and Ilag voluntarily executed an extra-judicial confession.

EX-CONVICT CLUBBED TO DEATH
A former convict was clubbed to death by his former cellmate during a drinking spree in a village in Agusan del Sur, police said on Saturday. Edgar Hingpit, 46, and his killer, Romwel Aguilar, were former prisoners at the Davao Penal Colony in Davao City. ANTHONY VARGAS