GAPAN CITY – Police operatives arrested a female manager of a funeral parlor for allegedly masterminding the killing of an embalmer here Friday The suspect was identified as Cherrylyn Lazaro, 33, branch manager of St. Peter Chapel Funeral Homes and resident of Barangay Balite, San Miguel, Bulacan.
PO3 Dennis Pengson, investigator, said Lazaro was identified as the mastermind in the killing of Marty Dela Cruz, 42, resident of 10-A Cynthia St., Dona Carmen Subd., Commonwealth, Quezon City. Dela Cruz, police records showed, was using his mobile phone when shot at close range by a lone gunman inside an eatery along Gapan-Olongapo Road at around 8:50 a.m. Friday.
A companion, Rick Angelo Sarmiento, rushed the victim to the Good Samaritan Hospital where the victim alleged that Lazaro could be behind the attack against him. The gunman, wearing a bull cap and a white t-shirt, and described as fair complexioned, between 5’5” to 5’7” in height and medium built, fled on foot towards Barangay Sto. Niño.
The victim died two hours later while being operated on, police said. A police team led by Senior Inspector Jeffrey Alivia arrested Lazaro during a follow-up operation. The still unidentified gunman remained at large. Police said an old grudge could be the motive behind the killing.
Investigation showed Dela Cruz and Lazaro had a rift recently after the former supposedly refused to embalm the remains of a man taken to the parlor. This reportedly led to De la Cruz reporting to the company’s main office in Metro Manila the alleged “extra-curricular activities” of Lazaro Dela Cruz reportedly has in possession a video which shows Lazaro allegedly having an extra-marital affair.
The video, police said, has been turned over to the police authorities before Dela Cruz died. Recovered from the crime scene were three live ammunition from a .45 pistol.
