Three indicted for murder in Diergos slay

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three persons were recommended to be charged for murder in the killing of businesswoman Claire Diergos in Iloilo province.

And none of them are from the Lopez family of San Dionisio town.

In a copy of the resolution obtained by Daily Guardian, the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office found probable cause in filing a murder case against Raffy Sorioso alias Nonoy; Gardo Ibrahim who also goes by alias Gardo, Muslim, and Yusof; and Ma. Rudelyn Sumbong.

Sorioso’s last known address is Poblacion, San Dionisio, Iloilo while Ibrahim is from Housing Project, Barangay Cubay, San Dionisio.

Sumbong, Diergos’ househelp, is a resident of Barangay Baclayan, New Lucena, Iloilo.

“For insufficiency of evidence, it is respectfully recommended that the complaint against respondents Peter Paul Lopez, Saliha Lopez alias Sally, Felix Paul Lopez, Carlos Paul Lopez, and Christian Paul Paul be dismissed without prejudice to its refilling 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.

Major Rolando Araño, Pavia police chief, filed the case for murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) upon the complaint of Diergos’ father, Samuel Diergos.

The releasing of names of those charged in the Diergos slay was delayed after the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) stood pat that it will not name those charged until a warrant of arrest is issued.

The IPPO is yet to issue a statement on the turnout of the case.

Lawyer Dwight Trasadas, counsel for the Lopez family, said they have yet to receive a copy of the resolution and he will have to sit down with his clients to plot their next move.

Earlier, it was claimed that jealousy could have triggered the killing.

It took a few months before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) Diergos filed the case citing lack of direct witnesses.

In filing the case, it was earlier reported that police have 10 witnesses who offered “circumstantial testimonies that corroborate with other evidences.”

The body of 36-year-old Diergos was found inside a sports utility vehicle (SUV) afternoon of October 26, 2021 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

She died from two stab injuries and an incised wound on her neck.

She also suffered two hesitation or tentative stab wounds on her left hand, specifically on her palm, and two incised wounds on her right thumb.

She also suffered scalp hematoma on the left side of her head and another hematoma on her right thigh.

Her house at Deca Homes in Pavia, Iloilo was deemed as a primary crime scene while her vehicle was considered the secondary crime scene.