Slain QC car dealer's family to offer reward too

The family of a Quezon City-based car dealer whose tortured and burned body was found in Nueva Ecija is offering a reward for information leading to the killers. Arsenio Evangelista, who identified the remains of his son Venson on Tuesday, said his friends are pooling together their money for the reward, but did not say how much the amount will be. "Yes, we will offer a reward. We are still determining how much to offer, but I am heartened that my friends are pooling their resources for the reward offer," he said in Filipino in an interview on dwIZ radio. He also appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to give the case at least some attention, even as he said he is confident police will solve the case. Drug addicts? Meanwhile, Central Luzon police head Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima said they are looking into the possibility the killers were addicted to drugs. "I believe this crime can only be the handiwork of drug addicts. Such heinous crimes had been the work of addicts, so it is possible those behind the killing are addicted to drugs," Purisima said in Filipino in an interview on dzRH. He also gave his cell phone number so the public can report leads directly to him. The number is 0918-9268181. "Sa tingin ko marami pang gusto tumulong sa kababayan na nagbigay ng pabuya sa pagkahuli ng gumawa ng karumal-dumal na krimen (I believe many people want to help solve this heinous crime)," he said. Search for justice The elder Evangelista said the first stage of his quest to find his missing son had ended while the second stage of finding justice has just started. "Ang second stage, manawagan na mabigyan kami ng hustisya. Nananawgan ako kay Presidente Aquino, baka pwede mabigyan ng kaunting pansin ang kaso," he said. The younger Evangelista, 30, went missing during a test-drive of a Toyota Land Cruiser near the family's showroom last Jan. 13. Witnesses said they saw a passenger from a Pajero SUV tailing the Land Cruiser alight and board it. A scuffle ensued, and the Land Cruiser sped away. Evangelista's body was found the next day in a lot in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, but it was only Tuesday that his father identified it. On Tuesday night, the younger Evangelista's remains were brought to the Loyola Memorial Chapel in Marikina City. A report by dzBB radio's Manny Vargas said the Evangelista family has not set a date for Venson's burial as they are waiting for relatives to arrive from Australia and the United States. Police are looking into the possibility the killing of Evangelista was connected with that of Emerson Lozano, son of Marcos lawyer Oliver Lozano. Lozano and driver Ernani Sensil went missing after meeting with a prospective buyer of a van in Quezon City last Jan. 12. Sensil's body was found in Tarlac the next day while that of Lozano was found in Pampanga on Friday. On the other hand, the elder Evangelista discounted the possibility that a grudge was behind the killing of his son, who he said had no enemies.— LBG, GMANews.TV