ICPO names suspect in motel murder

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has spilled the identity of the suspect in the murder of a 38-year-old masseuse whose body was found in a motel room last April 1.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, tagged Rommel John Celestre alias Dikit as the man who murdered Christine Gabayeron.

The victim worked as a masseuse at a spa center near Queen’s Court Drive-in Hotel where her body was found.

Sangrines said it did not take long for information to keep coming in since they released the suspect’s photograph that was grabbed from a CCTV footage.

Based on the information gathered, the suspect is between 21 and 22 years old, contrary to earlier assessment that he could be in his 30s.

His last known addresses are Zone 1A, Barangay Balabago, Jaro, Iloilo City; Sitio Dumalagdag, Barangay Bugnay, Jordan, Guimaras; Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City; and Monticello Villas Subdivision in Pavia, Iloilo.

Police earlier checked another man with a similar description in Passi City, Iloilo but it turned out to be negative.

Another information led police to San Enrique, Iloilo but it also yielded negative result.

Sangrines said the suspect has no permanent job. Sometimes, he would work as a construction worker or pedicab or tricycle driver.

She noted that Celestre’s family has been cooperative with authorities.

“They also want him to surrender but they just want to ensure his safety,” Sangrines said.

Celeste was the last person seen with Gabayeron before she was found dead inside Room 111 of Queen’s Court.

The ICPS5 dubbed the suspect as armed and dangerous “because of the manner he killed the victim,” Lieutenant Joebert Amado, Iloilo City Police Station 5, said.

Gabayeron, who temporarily resides at Villa Matilde, Barangay San Vicente, Jaro, Iloilo City, is a mother of three – 19, 16, and 10 years old – from Barangay Bacjawan Sur, Concepcion, Iloilo.

The ICPS 5, through the imitative of its commander Lieutenant Colonel Albert Sy, also offered a P10,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.

A witness has already executed an affidavit pointing to the same man in the CCTV as the person who was with Gabayeron.

The spa center manager where Gabayeron worked also claimed that it’s also the same man who went to their establishment at 3 a.m. of April 1 to avail of a massage service.

Gabayeron later asked her manager to go out since the man allegedly wanted “home service.”

They readily left the center and walked to the nearby motel.

At one point, the man left the room, went to a nearby store, bought beer, and went back to their room. The store’s CCTV cameras helped the police identify him.

Room attendants Kier Escobido and Edcel Puenteveja found the half-naked victim sprawled on the floor of Room 111.

Investigators noticed hematoma on her face and other parts of the body. She also suffered lacerations on the left side of her body.

Broken beer bottles were scattered at the room while her personal belongs were in disarray.

Based on the autopsy result, the woman died of head injuries.

“She was apparently struck with a blunt object on her head. It was done repeatedly. Perhaps, more than five times until the bottle got broken,” Amado said.

The woman’s cellphone and the money on her bag were also missing.