A mother’s cry and appeal for justice for her daughter

(PANAWAGAN po sa ating lahat, ng isang namimighating magulang na sumisigaw ng katarungan, sa isang pugante sa batas, na brutal na pumatay sa kanyang anak, ang kanyang demonyong manugang na si TIBO AGUDO AREJOLA).

A LONG, tedious and painful journey in search for justice for the senseless and cruel murder of our beloved daughter, MELISSA.

I do not know all of you but I know in my heart that you are intelligent people who can comprehend and would be very much interested to know the truth, you are entitled to know the truth.

I am Mrs. Maxima G. Perez, 70 years old, mother of Melissa Perez Arejola (whom we fondly called Guy) who was murdered last August 6, 2008 at about 12:30 to 1:00 am inside their house at 78 Stockton St., cor. Fresno St., Phase 3, Laguna Bel-air, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. Melissa was shot in the head and chest at close range and both shots were fatal. When this happened she was with her husband, Tibo A. Arejola. Thus, he was the only witness to the shooting that happened.

Melissa Perez-Arejola, age 37 and a native of Pleasant Village IV, Los Baños, Laguna was murdered last August 6, 2008 at about 12:30 a.m. inside their house at #78 Stockton St., cor. Fresno St., Phase 3, Laguna Bel-air, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. Melissa was shot at the head and chest, both fatal. When this happened, she was with her husband, Tibo A. Arejola, a native of Rhodas Subd., Los Baños, Laguna. Thus, the witness in the shooting that happened was Tibo. They do not have any children in spite of the almost 12 years of marriage. Nobody was living with them.

As per record of the police, Tibo, the husband of my daughter claimed that four unidentified persons barged into their house and shot them. However, Tibo sustained injury only on his left hand. There were no signs of struggle and disarrangement inside the house. Personal items, furniture and appliances were intact and police believed nothing was missing.

However, according to the husband, a cellphone of Melissa, which was located on top of a chair beside the bed close to where Melissa was sleeping, was lost and a new cellphone inside a drawer of a cabinet was also lost. No sign of damage on the door lock to establish a forcible entry.

Based on the police and the circumstances surrounding the death of our daughter Melissa, the investigation failed to establish the motive of the alleged assailant being claimed by Tibo. What was so worrying also and irreconcilable was that Tibo did not get any help, failed to report the incident immediately to the security guard at the entrance/exit guardhouse of the subdivision and failed to bring his dying wife or maybe dead already to a nearest hospital very closed to their place than in Calamba City.

What would this mean? The person who shot our daughter really did not give her a chance to live, because the shots were made at close range. Why would an intruder or robber shot our daughter and made sure she was dead. I suppose the robber will shoot both of them not only Melissa who has then a slight fever per Tibo and was sure  she was dead. Also, Tibo who could have fought back since he was stronger was spared of his life.

According to the autopsy, the fired bullet recovered that entered the cranial cavity was embedded on the right position of the occipital lobe. This is a fatal gunshot wound of the head per the autopsy report.

Also, the gunshot wound at the chest indicate the fired bullet recovered was also embedded and also fatal.

Also, according to the report of the officer-in charge of the security agency to the president of Laguna Bel-air Homeowners Association there was no sign of robbery incident because there were no losses inside the house.

Tibo’s failure to cooperate with investigation of the police earlier (gave only a 1-page affidavit on August 15, 2008) and with the NBI has greatly delayed the said investigation. In fact, he has done nothing to find out who was the killer of his wife, which I find disturbing and puzzling. Please note however, that he consented in the reenactment of what really happened on the said shooting on September 24, 2008 and this was duly documented.

A complaint was filed with the NBI Sta. Rosa on August 24, 2008 and soon thereafter started its investigation, which lasted for two (2) years and about three (3) months. The result of its investigation was embodied in more than 500 pages of report which recommended that Tibo Arejola be prosecuted for the crime of Parricide under Article 246 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended and that the case be forwarded to NBI’s Legal and Evaluation Division (LED) at NBI Headquarters for its study, review and final recommendation.

As of now, after 2 years and almost 5 months, Tibo Arejola, remains a fugitive from law as he had gone into hiding.  As a mother, I appeal to all who in their kindness and compassion can help us get the final justice for my daughter. My husband and I live a very simple life and the murder of our daughter shook us. Our daughter Melissa was  a very caring, loving, and talented person. She was still full of dreams that someday se will be able to enjoy fruits of her labor, but her life was taken with just a snap of the finger of the murderer, her evil husband Tibo Aguho Arejola. It is as if our whole world collapsed with her death.

As parents and I know most of you are also by now, we believe and I know you will agree we did the right decision to pursue the case to  know who have killed Melissa who was shot at the chest and head closed range. Why an intruder/robber would shot our daughter Melissa, and made sure she was dead.

I do not have somebody to share with my pains (my husband had became very emotional since the passing away of Melissa) except friends who really go out of their way to accommodate me.

Once more, I am knocking at your innermost heart. I firmly believe and humbly beg you to please help us in my behalf for my daughter and to impress upon the court the importance of her case.

Likewise as a mother, I request all of you in your kindness and compassion to help us look for justice for Melissa who at the young age of 37, full of dreams that someday she will be able to enjoy the fruits of her labor, but her life was taken away with just a snap of a finger of the murderer, her husband Tibo Aguho Arejola. Now a fugitive from justice. Any information or  whereabouts leading to the arrest of the murderer, don’t hesitate to call this number 09179148308 – Mayor Abner Afuang or  please  notify  the nearest police station. Cash reward of P100.000.00 pesos will be given for the arrest of the murderer.

Maraming salamat po,

Mrs. Maxima G. Perez

 

Abner Afuang