© Provided by GMA News Online bulacan massacre witness
A witness recounted seeing three men, including arrested suspect Carmelino Ibañes, when she passed by the home of the family slain on Tuesday in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
The witness, nicknamed Celia in a report by Saleema Refran on 24 Oras, saw the three men when she passed by the Carlos' house while searching for her child who failed to return home the previous day.
In her statement to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Camp Crame on Friday, Celia said she even saw one of the men carrying a blood-drenched knife before running away.
"Tatlo sila. Yung isa nakahubad, yung isa naka-dark blue, tapos yung isa naka t-shirt siya tapos parang marumi na. May edad na, yung dalawa po bata pa," she said.
"Nakita ko yung isa yung bata pa na may kutsilyo siyang hawak-hawak tumutulo pa dito yung dugo. Dugo talaga. Pati mukha niya may dugo. Sabi ko, ano 'to? Umalis na lang po ako, natakot na po ako," she added.
She was shocked to later learn on television the house she passed by was the site of a gruesome murder and that Ibañes was the shirtless man she saw carrying the bloody knife.
"Nung pinakita po yung bahay, sabi ko, dito ako galing sa bahay na 'to ha? Ito kako yung bahay," Celia said.
"Siya po yung nakita ko. Ginanun ko po talaga. Siya po yung nakita kong may hawak ng kutsilyo na nakahubad," she added.
Celia, who also heard children screaming prior to seeing the suspects, was moved to approach Dexter Carlos Sr., the living relative of the five slain, during the first day of the wake to give her testimony.
"Siyempre may apo ako, may pamilya rin po ako, konsensya po ang umano sa akin," she said.
Possible abuse
The Civil Security Unit of Bulacan approached Celia during the wake to hear her account.
They then nabbed the men she pointed out, beat them up, and took Celia and the suspects around Bulacan before accompanying her to Quezon City.
"Nung nakuha, nagkagulo na sila doon. Binugbog na nga nila eh sa harapan ko pa. Piniringan pa nila, nilagyan pa ng paperbag sa ulo. Binabanatan nila. Sabi tarantado ka. May testigo," Celia said.
"Sumusuko na yung suspek. 'Sir, punta na tayo sa presinto, hindi ko na kaya. Dalhin niyo kami sa headquarters.' 'Gago, walang headquarters 'to. Punta tayo sa impyerno.'"
She never saw suspects other than Ibañes on TV.
"Kinuha lang nila sa 'kin yung impormasyon kung sa'n makikita, kung sa'n pumasok yung tao. Pinaturo lang nila sa akin. Yung sinasabi nilang imbestigahan, kung ano nakita mo, yung parang statement mo, wala silang ginawang ganun," Celia said.
"Kumbaga, parang ginamit din nila ako kasi may tinatago silang 'di ko maintindihan," she added.
Ibañes admitted to having to accomplices with the aliases of Inggo and Tony when he faced Carlos at court on Friday.
CSU has yet to respond to Celia's accusations.
Despite Celia's misgivings, police said they have already arrested Tony. Inggo or Ronald Pacinos was initially taken into custody with Ibañes but was eventually let go due to a lack of evidence. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News