TODAY IN HISTORY: "FPJ IN COMA"/ DECEMBER 13, 2004

SEPTEMBER 28, 1964: SINGER DIOMEDES MATURAN BARES THREATS ON LIFE

Sometime in 1964, 50s and 60s popular singer-actor Diomedes Maturan gone missing for about 3 months and speculations were rife that something terrible happened to him. A hot news item then… Manila Times reporter Rod Reyes covered the whole story---

SINGER BARES THREATS ON LIFE

by Rodolfo T. Reyes

Manila Times

September 28, 1964--- Singer Diomedes Maturan, 24, confirmed yesterday the threats on his life and said that he had been hiding in his house at 2376 Tejeron st., Sta. Ana, for the past three months. Maturan, was located by the Manila Times in his house after he was reported missing by his friends and associates in the local entertainment world. Movie personalities and show business producers who were contacted by the Times the previous days denied knowledge of his whereabouts. 

Hidden in room 

Maturan and his mother, Mrs. Felisa Padilla-Maturan, 54, said they told all those looking for the actor-singer that he was in the province. Mrs. Maturan said that she cancelled his radio program and singing engagements on radio, stage, and television following the threats on the singer sometime last June as Diomedes hid in his room.

With bodyguard

The singer himself said that he had been able to go out only lately and with a bodyguard. He said that since June, he had been staying in his room. He said that before the police drive on crime, he used to scale the back wall of their house in getting in and out of the house. He said he never used the front gate. Maturan refused to name the persons who had been threatening him, but he said that they were riding in the same cream-colored Impala car used by the gang which shot up the Manila Grand Opera House.

Cause

He said that the gang started looking for him shortly after he broke off with the aunt of one or the gang members who is the son of a suburban city judge. The singer denied that he had promised to marry the suspect’s aunt. Maturan said the gang came to his house many times looking for him, but his mother told the gang that the singer was sick in the province. The gang told Mrs. Maturan that they would not stop until they had found the singer. Mrs. Maturan said the gang wanted to take the singer with them to the Bulakena restaurant and to the Golden Gate motel. She said she was afraid that her son would get hurt if he went with the group.

Reported to police

Maturan said he also knew that it he went out with the gang, he would be beaten up. Maturan said he reported the threats to Eduardo Quintos, MPD chief last July. He gave the police the plate numbers of the cars used by the gang. Matunan and his mother were scheduled to leave for the New World’s Fair last Aug. 30, but they cancelled the trip when they learned that the judge's son is in New York. Maturan said he may appear on radio and TV again next week. He said he is no longer afraid. He added that the gang's activities have been contained. Maturan earns about P6,000 a picture and P2.000 a week in the Opera House. During the three months that he has been in hiding, Maturan said he had not earned a single centavo.

More on Diomedes Maturan

"NOTHING CHANGE !"

"What's new?"

Editorial Cartoon- 1960

Editorial Cartoon- 1963

"ARREST: PATROLMAN RISAL ALIH: ZAMBOANGA MASSACRE" (1989)

Screen heavyweights Ramon Revilla and Eddie Garcia played Risal Alih and Gen. Batalla respectively in this 1989 movie, Arrest: Patrolman Risal Alih: Zamboanga Massacre. Vilma Santos had a special role in the movie as Risal's wife and future action star Robin Padilla was also cast in a supporting role.

Zamboanga City--- On Jan. 5, 1989, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla, then commander of the Philippine Constabulary in Western Mindanao, and his chief of staff Col. Romeo Abendan, along with five other people, were taken hostage by discharged policemen and soldiers in Batalla’s own office at the Recom-9 headquarters in Cawa-Cawa, Zamboanga City.

The hostage-takers were led by rogue cop Rizal Alih, who, along with the group numbering about seven, had been ordered to report to Batalla’s office in connection with the killing of seven persons in 1984.

During the meeting, Alih was told that he and his men would be detained—himself in Camp Crame and the rest in Zamboanga City.

An angered Alih drew his firearm and a brief firefight ensued, leading to the hostage-taking.

Members of the Marine Corps subsequently surrounded the area, but Alih, shouting over a megaphone, threatened to kill the hostages if government troops attacked.

2 more demands

He demanded to talk with then Sen. Santanina Rasul, a relative of his, and then Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos refused to go.

At around 7 p.m., Rasul and then Speaker Ramon Mitra arrived at the Recom-9 headquarters to negotiate for the release of the hostages. Mitra offered to take Alih under his protective custody in Palawan. But Alih laid down two more demands—two helicopters to fly him and his men out of the country and the immediate removal of all Christian soldiers from the area.

The military formed an assault team with Brig. Gen. Braulio Balbas as commander. Balbas ordered that the area be cordoned off, and gave Alih until 1 a.m. of the next day to resume negotiations. By this time, a big number of armed Moro soldiers had slipped into the camp and joined the hostage-takers.

Blood

Alih called for another meeting with Mitra and Rasul. After hours of negotiations, he agreed to release the hostages at 3 a.m. But when Mitra emerged, he said he had seen blood leading to the bathroom where Batalla was being held. He said he had insisted on seeing the hostage and was not allowed to do so.

Balbas also asked to see Batalla, but at 7 a.m. the next day, the request had yet to be granted.
In the afternoon, the military announced that the government was sticking to Mitra’s offer. But Alih threatened to kill the hostages if no fresh negotiation was held by 4 p.m.

Alih’s failure to show Batalla shortly after 4 p.m. heightened speculation that the general had been killed, prompting military troops to launch an attack. The exchange of gunfire lasted for four hours.

Another attack was mounted eight hours later, and the battle raged through the night until the next morning.

When the smoke cleared, 19 people were found dead.There was no official identification of the charred or mutilated bodies. But the remains of Batalla and Abendan were later recovered. The military also announced that seven of the hostage-takers were among the dead.

Alih, however, managed to escape and to slip out of the country and into Malaysia.

In 1994, he was arrested and jailed in Malaysia for illegal possession of high-powered firearms.
In January 2006, after serving eight years in prison, Alih was deported back to the Philippines, where he now faces murder charges for the 1989 siege.

by Lawrence de Guzman/ Inquirer

MARCH 13, 1981: THE DEATH OF "BEN TUMBLING"; RECREATED IN FILM STARRING LITO LAPID

"Ben Tumbling: A People's Journal Story" (1985)- Stars Lito Lapid, Vivian Velez, Chralie Davao, George Estregan, Raoul Aragonn, Deborah Sun/ with Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Bomber Moran, Dick Israel, Suzanne Gpnzales, Lucita Soriano, Philip Gamboa, Romy Diaz, Renato Del Prado, Amay Bisaya/ Directed by Diego Cagahastian

Benjamin Garcia or Ben Tumbling (1957-81) was only 23 when he was shot and killed in an ambush set up by police operatives led by Intelligence Chief Vicente Vinarao.

Ben Tumbling, who hails from Malabon, derived his nickname from his earlier job as a movie stuntman. An expert in karate, he was said to have incredible acrobatic abilities, a talent helped him make quick getaways from arresting policemen.

It was said that Ben’s hatred with police started with a traumatic brutallity he experienced. He was heavily tortured by arresting policemen as a juvenile delinquent. His head was hit hard by a chair, dunked in toilet bowl and his genitals electrocuted. Reports said that all this torture might have forgiven by Ben but what drove him for really hatting policemen of Malabon was when some of them raped his young wife.

He was later involved in robberies, car jacking and drug trafficking. In a matter of months, 7 policemen were shot dead, their guns taken from them. Because of this attacks, Ben Tumbling was now high up on the police’s “Most Wanted” list.

Malabon Police were now afraid of him.

Ben’s friends and neighbors received gifts from him. Those in dire needs suddenly received cash from him. It is easy to see why poor communities of Malabon saw Ben Tumbling as a hero, not as a criminal. When he was shot dead by policemen on Friday the 13th of March 1981, poor people of Malabon wept openly.

Source: http://matibay-thewayilookatit.blogspot.com/

Malabon Cemetery

uploaded by apawmango

REMEMBERING THE 1963 'BOY-SCOUT' PLANE TRAGEDY/ "TROOP 11" (1957) & "MUNTING BAYANI" (1963): TWO MOVIES ON SCOUTERS

Images: top and below- From Mabuhayradio.com

I have been a Quezon City resident almost all of my life and I always passed by the Tomas Morato street and Timog Avenue area where the streets are named after the 24 boy scouts and scout officials perished in a plane crash in 1963.

The Filipino delegation was composed of 24 scouts and scouting officials (called scouters in the Philippines). The delegates composed a happy bunch when it called on then Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal on July 25, 1963, at the Malacañang Palace. During the courtesy call, a Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) official, Dr. Bonifacio Lazcano, introduced the members of the delegation. Among them were the Manila Boy Scout Council's Dr. Florante L. Ojeda and Librado Fernandez, an assistant scoutmaster. Fr. Jose Ma. Martinez, SJ, a faculty member of the Ateneo de Naga, who was an assistant scoutmaster in Naga City, was the delegation's chaplain.

The boy scouts who died in the plane crash: from the Manila BS Council: Ramon V. Albano, Henry Chuatoco, Jose Antonio Delgado, Pedro Gandia, Wilfredo Santiago and Ascario Tuason, Jr. From the Quezon City BS Council: Roberto Castor, Romeo R. Rallos and Rogelio Ybardolaza. Felix Fuentebella, Jr., represented both the Manila and Goa, Camarines Sur BS Councils. The rest of the scouts: Victor de Guia, Jr. (Baguio City), Antonio Limbaga (Zamboanga City), Roberto Lozano (Dagupan City), Paulo Madriñan (Pasay City), Jose Fermin Magbanua (Negros Oriental), Filamor Reyes and Antonio Torillo (Cavite) and Benecio Tobias (Tarlac).

On July 28, 1963, the boy scouts were aboard an EgyptAir jetliner bound for Greece to attend the 11th World Scout Jamboree when the aircraft crashed in India.

BSP officials remembered one of the scouts, identified only “Chito,” who sent the last post card to his parents while on a stopover in Bangkok Thailand.

Rain was coming down hard, and most of the Boy Scouts had preferred to stay in the comfort of their rooms, when “Chito” sat down to write on a postcard. He did not know that it was to be his last message:

Dearest Pa, Ma, Brothers, Sister and Everybody: We arrived in Bangkok at 10:25 PM (Manila Time) safe and in good condition. We departed Hong Kong at 8:45 p.m. (Manila Time). I already sent to Pati a postcard. Please pray for me. Thank you. Love, Kisses and prayers, Chito

From Bangkok, Chito and his fellow Scouts boarded a flight bound for Bombay, India and transfer for a flight to Greece. It was their last flight on earth. Men, fishing on the sea off the town of Madh, heard the loud explosion. Morning arrived only to bring the start of search operations.

“They are so young to die.” Throughout the country, news of the disaster spread like wild fire. Shock reigned among relatives, friends, and Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the entire country.

Everybody hoped and prayed-but in vain. Misfortune carried the day. Everywhere, newspapers confirmed the great tragedy: The entire contingent to the 11th World Scout Jamboree died in a plane crash.

That was July 28, 1963.

“He is not dead,” one mother wailed, “he promised to return. He cannot be dead.”

The Scout broke his promise: he did not return alive!

At the BSP National Headquarters, a prayer vigil was held as calls, telegrams, and cable messages in a massive display of sympathy poured in.

Luminaries of many countries, such as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Paul VI, the President of the Republic of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the President of Indonesia, Sukarno, offered their condolences.

Expressing the bereavement of an entire nation, then President Diosdado Macapagal said:

“The Boy Scouts died in the line of duty. Their noble death shall inspire the youth and the nation.”

Amidst the sadness and suffering, the Filipinos determined to fulfill their duty to participate in the historical gathering in Europe.

On the third of August 1963, Scouts Nicasio Fernandez, Guillermo Flores and Louis Santiago left Manila as a token delegation to the Greek Jamboree.

The following day, the frigate Kripan of the Indian Navy steamed to the site of the crash in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Madh.

Indian Consul General to the Philippines K.M. Modi and Commander J.D. Cooper of the Indian Navy laid a giant wreath on the waters to honor the dead.

In Europe, in the historic plains of Marathon, at the very site of the great international event, the Chief Scout of Greece, Crown Prince Constantinos, formally opened the Eleventh World Scout Jamboree amidst the 14,000 delegates from 85 nations of the world-minus the 24 heroes from the little country in the far corner of Southeast Asia.

The Flag of the Republic of the Philippines stood at half-staff at the Sub-Camp called Antiochis, where the Filipino boys would have stayed had they made it alive to the great gathering.

Fifty-mile winds struck at Marathon, knocking tents down, spraying sand and dust everywhere, sweeping and destroying many fixtures.

Nature herself was crying and sending a somber atmosphere in sympathy at the ill fate which befell the noble Scouts of the Philippines contingent.

While the Scouts of the world – minus their Filipino brothers – came together in the ancient country of Greece, Masses and necrological services were being offered in the Philippines.

At the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Fernando E. V. Sison, president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, spoke to the parents and kin of the 24 Scouts and Scouters:

“My Friends, it is not given to man to bring the dead back to life. But perhaps it would be wrong or amiss for me to say here that in more than just a symbolic way, these Scouters and Scouts are not dead,” Sison said.

“They live, and shall continue to live in our midst. Their spirit of honor, of loyalty to God and country, their allegiance to the Scout Law of helping people at all times, this spirit of honor did not perish in the Arabian Sea; this spirit of honor came back to us with these mortal remains. And this spirit has entered into thousands of young hearts who look forward to their Scouting days of yesterday,” he said.

A grieving Antonio C. Delgado, father of Scout Jose Antonio Delgado, responded on behalf of the parents and relatives of the fallen Scouts and Scouters:

“For this is the other side of the coin of grief. The glory. The honor. The triumph. … In the forefront of these boys’ minds were always held as shining goals the noble ideals of the Scout Oath: ‘honor…duty…God…country! These boys kept their honor; and they kept the faith; and they gave their all for their country… and I am sure they kept themselves in the friendship of God.”

After the tragedy, the parents and relatives of the departed continued to meet and exchange stories of their young boys.

Their meetings led to the formation of the 11th World Jamboree Memorial Foundation. Memorial and markers were put up. The Ala-Ala Mausoleum was erected at Manila’s North Cemetery.

Streets in Quezon City were renamed in honor of the Scouts. The fallen Scouts and Scouters were each conferred a special Gold Medal of Honor.

At the center of Tomas Morato rose the monument of the 24 Scouts as a tribute to fallen heroes. Monuments of Scouts were also built in schools they attended like in Letran, San Sebastian and others.

Two years later, in 1965, the Maharashtra State Association of the Bharat Scouts and Guides set up a memorial tablet in honor of the twenty-four.

In July 4, the tablet was unveiled by Srimati Lakshmi Mazumdar, National Commissioner of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.

The tablet reads: “In memory of the twenty-four Boy Scouts & Scouters of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines who perished in an airplane crash over the turbulent waters of the Arabian Sea near Bombay before dawn of Sunday, July 28th 1963 on their way to the 11th Boy Scouts World Jamboree in Marathon, Greece.”

Many years later, in 1988, then President Corazon C. Aquino, Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, declared the 28th of July of every year as Scout Memorial Day.

Today, years after that Black Sunday, the 24 Scouts and Scouters are not just streets, monuments or markers but are still symbols of Scouts who live by their promise to fulfill their duties. (PNA) RMA/JCA)
Sources: Mabuhayradio.com and
Bayanihan

"Troop 11" (1957)- Stars Nenita Vidal, Manding Claro and Pugo/ with Vic Silayan, Hector Reyes, Ike Jarlego, Jr., Lito Carmelo, Lou Salvador, Jr./ Directed by Tony Santos

"Munting Bayani" (1963)- Stars Bob Soler, Rebecca, Oscar Keesee, Tina Loy, Lito Anzures, Danilo Jurado, Jay Iagan, Roger Thompson/ Directed by A.B. Tecson

AUGUST 19, 1964: GANGSTERS SHOOT UP OPERA HOUSE; TOTO HUNTED

In 1964, popular comedian Toto, known for his hilarious antics in stage shows, became the target of a manhunt by a group of notorious gangsters. The group went to the Manila Grand Opera House looking for him and when they failed to find him, one the gunmen sprayed the theater lobby with bullets. This mafia-like incident became a headline news the following day. Here's that full blown account, from the front pages of The Manila Times---

Various stage shows at the Opera House Circa 1962-64, where Toto was one of the mainstays

The Manila Times/ August 19, 1964

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GANGSTERS SHOOT UP OPERA HOUSE
PLAN TO KILL ACTOR FOILED

August 19, 1964--- One of the six men gunning for a comedian at the Manila Grand Opera House on Rizal Avenue sprayed the theater’s lobby with bullets at 6:15 last night when they failed to find the stage actor. Nobody was hit when the gunman, armed with a pistolized carbine, emptied his gun at glass cases and other objects all over the place. The police recovered 13 spent shells.

The six men, who sped away in a cream-colored Chevrolet Impala with the .45 caliber pistol of the theater’s security guard, were believed to be the same gang which liquidated Arturo “Boy Golden” Porcuna in gangland fashion on Dec. 24., 1963, in a Mandaluyong apartment. Being hunted by the gang was Albverto Navajas, better known by his stage name “Toto.” He did not report last night at the Opera House and was reported to be holed out somewhere for fear of his life. He was pistol-whipped in the head the other day also inside the theater by a Tondo toughie suspected to be one of the Porcuna killers.

Initial police investigation showed that two armed men got off the Impala in front of the theater and disarmed the security guard, Ricardo S. Urbano, 28, of 557 M. Earnshaw st., Sampaloc. The two--- one had a .45 caliber pistol while the other had the pistolized carbine--- then directed the guard to take them inside to look for Toto. Urbano, however, told them that the comedian did not show up. Angered that Toto was not around, one of the gunmen started shooting up the place, causing a stampede inside and outside the theater.

The two men dashed back to the car, where four other companions had remained, and sped south along Rizal ave. A policeman, Patrolman Reynaldo Plete, directing traffic on Doroteo Jose Street and Rizal Avenue, spotted the car after he heard the shots from the Opera House and fired on it with his .45 caliber pistol, aiming at the car’s tires. The car, which was not hit by the policeman, turned right and tried going against traffic on Doroteo Jose, a one-way street, but had to back out seconds later. It made a sharp turn and sped northward. No one managed to jot down the car’s plate number as it was covered. The only witnesses were the guard and other unidentified bystanders, who were reluctant to talk.

The underworld grapevine, however, informed police probers that Tondo hoodlums were gunning after Toto, the comedian, for his failure last week to fulfill an engagement on Dagupan, Tondo. One of those who invited Toto was the Porcuna slaying suspect who pistol-whipped the comedian Sunday. His companion at the time was another alleged member of the gang, son of a wealthy architect. The gang is known to use flashy cars in liquidating missions. Two of the suspects were reported close to high city government officials. They have been wanted since the Porcuna slaying last December.
(Source: The Manila Times/ August 19, 1964)

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August 20, 1964--- The police last night intensified the hunt for the gang that shot up the Manila Grand Opera House Tuesday evening. Actor Alberto Navajas, better known as "Toto," sought by the gang for liquidation was reported “missing”shortly after he had a meeting with Capt. Antonio Paralejas yesterday morning. Occasion for the meeting was the surrender of Maximiano Magat, 36, suspected to be one of the gang. He was released when the theater security guard failed to identify Magat. Navajas was later reported as “missing.” Police Chief Eduardo Quintos sent Det. Sgt. Alfredo Lim and Det. Alberto Cano to pick up the actor. During the confrontation, Toto told Captain Parelejas, Magat pistol-whipped him at the theater at 2:30 p.m. last Monday, almost 24 hours before the shooting in the lobby of the historic building. At the same time, persons close to the police chief said the police might announce the solution of the case in 24 hours. A politician’s son was reported to be in the gang.

Earlier, the Manila Times received a threat over a telephone from a man who said he belonged to the gang that shot up the Opera House. “I want to talk to the editor,” he said in an arrogant voice. “The editor is not in but may we help you?” the deskman replied. “Why do you have to play up the Opera House incident? Nobody was killed!” the caller shouted. “Who is this?” the deskman asked. The caller switched to Tagalog: “Kung gusto ninyo pupunta kami diyan sa Times at diyan kami magpapaputok!” (If you wish, we’ll see you there at the Times and shoot up the place!). Then he hung up.

Police informants said the gang responsible for the shooting was the same one that mauled a security guard--- Diogenes Engay, 34--- at the Aristocrat Restaurant on Roxas blvd. recently. It is the same gang, they said that mowed down Arturo “Golden Boy” Porcuna and two of his friends last Dec. 24.

Magat, one of the suspects in the Opera House shooting, is one of the six men facing multiple murder charges for the Porcuna machinegun-slaying. Killed with Porcuna inside a Mandaluyong apartment were Domingo Salvador and Jorge Martelino. Charged with Magat before the Pasig Court of First Instance are Eduardo Luz, Juanito Soriano, Roberto Ner, Reynaldo Sebastian and Antonio Razon. Razon is still at large. Magat and the four others are out on a P20,000 bail bond each. The trial is being held before Judge Guilermo Torres of the Pasig CFI. Magat was released after questioning by the police when Ricardo S. Urbano, 28, of 557 M. Earnshaw st., Sampaloc, Opera House security guard, failed to identify him. The suspect claimed he was playing mahjongg in an advertising office on Sales- P.Paterno sts. in Quiapo from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the police, the gang was looking not only for Toto but another still unidentified comedian before the Tuesday shooting. The two reportedly turned down an invitation from the gang to appear at a stage show in Tondo. The gang was reportedly angered by the refusal of the two comedians whose manager is said to be a relative of the slain Porcuna.
(Source: The Manila Times/ August 20, 1964)

Further investigations revealed that the primary motive of the shooting was Toto's non-payment of the diamond ring worth P2,000 he supposedly got on installment. According to an article, “Neither Grand Nor Opera” by Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin)--- "Magat dismisses as gossip the rumor that he and Toto fell out because the comedian refused to perform at a fiesta in Tondo and a recent benefit show in Chinatown. Magat insists that the trouble was not between him and Toto but between Toto and a woman named Lucy, who happens to be a comadre of Magat’s and who approached him for help to collect payment from Toto for a diamond ring. However, Toto and Magat have different versions of the mystery of the diamond ring." And that’s where the misunderstanding started.

1949: THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE MURRAY MURDER CASE

50s local filmdom's top villain Carol Varga was in the middle of the limelight when she was caught in a love triangle in 1949 resulting into the murder of George Murray. Murray's mysterious death was front page news for months that baffled police authorities with twists and turns and even dragged top government and military officials to the case.

to read, click images to enlarge

The Manila Times/ August 21, 1949

The Manila Times/ August 24, 1949

This sensational murder case made it to the pages of Life Magazine.

Life Magazine/ 1949

On the fateful early morning of August 13, 1949, four shots rang in the residence of the Murray family. Sprawled inside the bedroom was the lifeless body of George C. Murray, a wealthy 30-year old ex-CID agent of the US Army, who sustained gunshot wounds. The whole place was in disarray when police authorities arrived. The wife, Ester del Rosario-Murray told the San Juan police that she was awakened by Murray when he arrived at 4 o’clock in the morning. She helped him undress and went down to the kitchen to make some coffee. Shortly after, four shots (which Mrs. Murray told the police sounded to her like the backfiring of a car) rang out. She went upstairs to find her husband shot and bleeding on his bed. According to the autopsy performed by NBI Dr. E. V. de los Santos later, Murray died almost instantly.

Initial investigations showed that the bedroom windows and door balcony were open and police probers were looking into the possibility that robbers might have sneaked into the room and shoot the victim. The police were desperately looking for more clues and evidences. Political angle was taken into consideration since Mr. Murray, from the documents found in his house, was into gun smuggling and gun running involving some top government and military officials.

The Murray murder case became front page news for weeks and months. A movie star named Carol Varga, Carolina Trinidad in real life, was invited by the police to shed more light since she was the last person seen with the victim. Murray had been deeply involved with Varga and he had even promised her marriage. Varga told the police that she was unaware of his marriage.

News report says that a few hours before the murder, Miss Varga was met at her residence at 11 Pepin, Sampaloc, by Murray shortly after he left his own residence at 202 N. Domingo, San Juan, at 7 o’clock on the night of Friday, August 12. Murray took Miss Varga to the Marfusha nightclub on Dewey Boulevard, and later to The Tower (Majestic Arms Hotel) on San Luis and Dewey Boulevard, after which he took her home, and returned home at past 10 o’clock. Murray then left his house a few minutes later and went to the Riviera nightclub, also on Dewey Boulevard, where a Miss Velez, lady photographer of Bob’s Studio sold him for P8 two copies of a picture taken of him and Miss Varga at the Riviera last August 6 which was Miss Varga’s 20th birthday. Murray left the Riviera at closing time, and with an American friend passed by the Metro Garden at Port Area for a few drinks, after which he proceeded straight to his house in San Juan where he arrived about 4 o’clock in the morning (Saturday, August 13).

Miss Varga and Murray first met last May during the filming of the movie, “Sagur,” in which Miss Varga played a part. Murray had loaned his yatch, the 100-foot “Mistress”, for the movie. Their friendship developed.

"Sagur" (1949)- Stars Fernando Poe, Mona Lisa, Fernando Royo, Luningning, Bimbo Danao, Cris de Vera/ Directed by Mar Esmeralda

Initial break of the case came when a housemaid recalled the strange silence of the Murray’s three watchdogs. Despite their usual alertness, these dogs failed to bark at the supposed killer. Other clues turned up--- a woman’s left-hand glove which showed traces of gunpowder despite having been washed. Slowly, the angle of the Other Woman cropped up and Mrs. Murray was arrested. Police believed that jealousy drove Mrs. Murray to kill her husband.

Mrs. Murray was found guilty of parricide and was sentenced to life imprisonment. See Supreme Court Final Decision on the case.

Carol Varga continued in her acting career and appeared in many unforgettable movies. A contract star of Premiere Productions, Varga won the Famas Best Supporting Actress in 1954 in the movie, “Guwapo.” She died of cancer in 2008.

"Guwapo" (1954)- Stars Anita Linda, Reynaldo dante, Carol Varga, Lopito, Ramon D' Salva, Vicente Liwanag, Nello Nayo/ Directed by Teodorico C. Santos

APRIL 14, 1950: TYRONE POWER ESCAPES DEATH DURING "GUERRILLA" FILMING

In 1950, a near fatal accident almost killed popular Hollywood actor, Tyrone Power while shooting the movie, "American Guerrilla in the Philippines." The movie, shot in Leyte, Pampanga and Subic in Olongapo, tells of an American soldier, Chuck Palmer (played by Tyrone Power), who fought in the country during the Second World War.

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The movie, directed by Fritz Lang, starred a number of Filipino actors, led by Cris de Vera who played a Japanese kempetai. Others in the cast are Rosa del Rosario, Erlinda Cortez, Miguel Anzures, Berting Labra, Eddie Infante and thousands of Filipino extras.

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TYRONE POWER ESCAPES DEATH DURING "GUERRILLA" FILMING

April 14, 1950--- Tyrone Power and other members of the cast and crew of “American Guerrilla in the Philippines” narrowly escaped possible death yesterday afternoon during the filming of a mock aerial battle scene at Subic bay, Zambales, when a Philippine Air Force AT-6, simulating an attacking Japanese dive-bomber, crashed in the water 50 yards from the camera barge where Power and others were standing. The pilot, Lt. Roberto Garcia, 26, and his crewman, Sgt. Ernesto Madango, 25, both of the Basa air base in Pampanga, were rescued from their sunken plane by Sgt. Warren Osborne and Daniel Martin, technicians of the 20th Century Fox unit shooting the scene from the barge. The two airmen were rushed to the Subic naval base hospital where they were given artificial respiration and treated for injuries. They were transferred later to the Basa air base hospital.

The scene, an enemy air attack on an American motor torpedo boat, was being shot at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon near Moron beach, 10 miles off Subic Bay. Garcia’s AT-6 advanced trainer, one of the five PAF planes assigned to the movie firm by Secretary of National Defense Ruperto Kangleon to simulate Jap planes, was diving with the others on the PT boat speeding past the barge when it suddenly went out of control. It swooped down to the height of 75 feet above the sea, whizzed over the camera barge where Power and others stood and crashed and sank into the water 50 yards away. It was completely destroyed.

Brig. Gen. Pelagio A. Cruz, commanding general of the PAF, said an officialreport he received from the naval base stated Lt. Garcia and Sgt. Madango sustained “superficial injuries.” Another report aid Madango fractured his right arm and both were suffering from possible internal injuries, shock from water submersion, contusion, abrasion and fracture.

The sequence being filmed at the time of the near-tragedy was the attack by Japanese dive bombers on the PT boat in which Lt. David Richardson, hero of the book from which the film was adapted, was an executive officer. The planes forced the PT boat to run aground on Cebu from which Richardson made his way to Leyte where he joined the guerrillas under Kangleon. Tyrone Power portrays the role of Richardson in the 20th Century Fox movie. (Source: The Manila Chronicle)

SEPTEMBER 14, 1949: FIRE BURNS FERNANDO POE'S HOUSE, FILM VAULT

In 1949, the residence of Fernando Poe Sr. was gutted by a huge fire which started at the film vault located behind the house. Jenny, elder Poe's three year-old daughter almost got killed. Ronald Allan Poe, popularly known as FPJ, was only 10 years old that time. He mentioned in one article interview that the vault flew 20 meters away from the house when it exploded and saw film reels spinning all over the place like flying saucers.

Those are millions of pesos worth of property lost. New generations of film lovers may have been deprived of seeing these precious cinematic gems.

From the front page of the Manila Times, here's the full account of that incident---

September 14, 1949--- Two fires broke out last night within two hours of each other, the first in the residence of Fernando Poe, movie actor-producer, in Grace Park and the second in the Allied Artists Productions, at 2235 Azcarraga. Both fires were place under control half an hour after the arrival of firemen.

Fernando Poe’s 3 year-old daughter, Jenny, sustained minor burns in the arms and back when she was locked up in the bathroom of Poe’s residence, on F. Sevilla and 3rd Avenue, Grace Park, which was the scene of the fire that broke out at 7:30 last night from stored movie films. Damage remained undetermined at press time.

Mrs. Marta Reyes Poe, mother of the movie actor and producer, told the police that they were all eating when the fire was suddenly noticed from the film vault behind the house. Poe’s wife, Mrs. Bessie Kelly-Poe, rushed her daughter Jenny to the family doctor, Dra. Estudita Ramos, who treated the girl at the St. Anthony’s hospital. It was however, Jenny’s uncle, Jose Samson, who braved the fire and rescued her from the bathroom, where she had earlier locked herself to take a bath.

JUNE 11, 1962: THE TRAGIC END OF TOMMY AGUILAR ALIAS "BOY VERGEL"

The life of Tommy Aguilar alias Boy Vergel was vividly chronicled in an article titled "The Short, Unhappy Life of Boy Vergel" by National Artist Nick Joaquin which was published in the Philippines Free Press magazine. Tommy, son of actress Alicia Vergel with her first husband, stepson to actor Cesar Ramirez and half-brother to actor Ace Vergel, grew up in the company of such notorious gangsters like Arturo Porcuna alias Boy Golden during the early 60s. Tommy, only 19, was shot dead in front of Odeon Theater on the night of June 10, 1962.

Joaquin writes---

Teen-agers in bloody strife daily loom, larger than life, on the screen of Manila’s Cine Odeon, which is currently showing West Side Story, the prize-winning movie on the teen-age gang wars in New York between Puerto Rican immigrants and “native” Americans. The film ends in a gush of gore and incongruous song, with three teen-agers dead, two in a knife duel, one in a shooting, the pinnacles of New York vainly striving, in default of stylish blank verse, to endow the morbidity with Elizabethan grandeur.

People who went to the Odeon on the night of June 10 emerged at around midnight to find the movie they had just seen being re-enacted, for real, on the sidewalk right in front of the movie house. Two teen-agers were being held at bay by five other young men. There were snarls and a flash of knives. One of the teen-agers fled toward the restaurant next door and was pursued by a young man brandishing a pistol. The terrified bystanders heard a shout: “Don’t run, Tommy--- I’ll shoot you!” The fleeing teen-ager was already halfway up the stairs of the restaurant when his pursuer fired. At the sound of the shot, the other boys dispersed. The gun wielder streaked across Azcarraga toward Rizal Avenue. The victim, bent over, arms folded over his belly, managed to stagger down the stairs before dropping to the pavement. A young man, apparently his companion, picked him up and carried him to the curb, where there was some argument with a taxicab driver who wouldn’t let the two boys board. A policeman had to bid him take the wounded boy to the North General Hospital.

The taxi sped away with its tragic fare and the folk who had just come out of the Odeon began to jest that they had seen two West Side stories for the price of one: the American original inside, a local version outside. The cultural time lag between Hollywood and Manila seems to have narrowed to a matter of days.

The shot boy died in the taxi as it entered the gate of the North General. He was Dead On Arrival, to use hospital and police parlance. His companion said that the victim’s name was Tomas Aguilar. The name rang no bells, but the boy, it turned out, had a famous kin. He was the son of movie star Alicia Vergel, the stepson of movie star Cesar Ramirez, and he himself was a star in his own world, the teen-age underworld of Manila, where he was known as Boy Vergel.

It became a front page news in 1962---

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MOVIE ACTRESS' SON SHOT DEAD BY STUDENT

June 11, 1962---A nineteen-year old son of a local movie actress was shot dead by a University of the East student at the stairs of the Alex Soda Fountain adjoining the Odeon theater at the corner of Claro Recto Avenue and Rizal Avenue shortly before midnight last night. The victim, Tomas Aguilar, of ROTC Hunters street, Quezon City, suffered a gunshot wound at his back just below the left shoulder. He died on arrival at the North General Hospital. Aguilar is the son of Alicia Vergel.

Police identified the assailant as Adriano Meneses y Manuel, 21, a UE student and residing at Nacar street, San Andres Subdivision. He and two of his companions were nabbed by MPD operatives shortly after the shooting. They were brought to the police headquarters at Isaac Peral for investigation. One of Meneses’ companions, Roberto Pilpa, 20, of 14 Illinois Street, Quezon City, told police probers that he, the assailant and four other companions were going up the stairs of the Alex Soda Fountain when they met the victim. Pilpa said that Meneses accosted the victim and the two had an argument. Later, the victim reportedly whipped out a knife and Meneses pulled out his .38 caliber pistol. Seeing the gun in Meneses’ hand, the victim fled and tried to enter again the Alex Soda Fountain. But Meneses cut short his escape by shooting him at the back. Meneses admitted to police investigators during an intensive grilling at the police headquarters that he shot to death the victim.

Pilpa also told police investigators that the shooting was caused by a quarrel between Meneses and the victim over a certain Marivic Tanseco of Fargas Compound, Mandaluyong, Rizal. He said that Marivic was a sweetheart of Meneses. But last month Aguilar started courting the girl who showed signs of liking the victim. This angered Meneses. And he started looking for Aguilar. It was only last night that the two met. Police found the fatal gun at 1112 Kusang Loob street, Sta. Cruz. It was seen by Sixto Legarda who told the police that he saw it being thrown by some teenagers. Pilpa was nabbed while he was about to board a taxicab by Pat. Jesus Marzan, while Meneses was arrested by Det. Silverio Ramirez in a Rizal Avenue coffee shop. Quiray was nabbed atop the Arellano High School at Teodora Alonzo by Det. Cpl. Jerry Upina.

Police also disclosed that Meneses was also involved in a near-fatal shooting last week when he shot Bartolome Chaves, a relative of Fiscal E. K. Chaves of Manila. MPD operatives are readying corresponding charges against Meneses and his companions who are now detained at the MPD headquarters. (Source: The Manila Chronicle)

SEPTEMBER 28, 1964: ACTOR KILLS MOVIE PRODUCER

In 1964, award-winning actor-producer Leroy Salvador figured in an unpleasant incident when he accidentally killed a movie producer. Claiming self-defense, he went to the police and confessed to the killing. From the front page of The Manila Times, here's that full account----

Actor Kills Cine Producer
Leroy Salvador yields, claims self defense

September 28, 1964- Leroy Salvador, well-known movie actor-producer, shot to death Jesus Consul, another movie producer, at the latter’s residence at 289 Banawe st., Quezon City, at 1:22 p.m. yesterday. Salvador, 35, of Metrica st., Sampaloc, surrendered to the QC police 30 minutes after the shooting. He claimed Consul was shot while the two were grappling for Consul’s revolver. Consul, 40, was dead on arrival at the National Orthopedic Hospital. He was hit in the left chest.

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Salvador told investigators that he and Consul quarreled over the use of a bus Salvador had leased from Consul’s Movie Philippines, Inc. during the shooting of “Dugo ng Sugatan.” The film is produced by Salvador’s Golden Harvest Productions. Salvador said Consul was sore over the damage to the bus engine while it was under lease by Golden Harvest Promotions. Consul allegedly charged Salvador with having failed to supply gasoline for the bus while it was in his custody. When he tried to deny the charge, Salvador said, Consul became belligerent. He said he went near to put his arm around the other man’s shoulder to placate him but Consul, he said, must have misunderstood his intention. Suddenly, he said, he saw Consul whip out his gun, a licensed .38 caliber Colt. Salvador said he was grappling with Consul for possession of the gun when it went off. He surrendered the gun.

The only witnesses to the incident were four men who went with Salvador to Consul’s residence. Salvador said he went there yesterday to edit and process the film of “Dugo ng Sugatan.” Salvador said he leased the bus and other movie equipment for P14, 500.00. The actor surrendered to Pat. Vicente Sardea, desk officer at the QC detective bureau at 1:50 p.m. “I shot somebody,” Salvador said when he turned himself in. The QC police last night readied a charge of homicide against the actor.

"Dugo ng Sugatan" (1964)

DECEMBER 24, 1963: THE DEATH OF ARTURO "BOY GOLDEN" PORCUNA

Arturo Porcuna, alias Boy Golden was a notorious gangster who figured prominently in gangland violence and Mafia-like vendetta during the early 60s. That time, the streets of Manila became the center of several fierce and violent confrontations among feuding gang groups. Porcuna was feared but his life was brief and his bloody end came in the early morning of December 24, 1963 when he was shot to death by members of his rival gang group.

From the front page of The Manila Chronicle, here's the full news account of that fateful day---

PORCUNA, 2 AIDES SHOT DEAD BY FOES
by Rufino Rogel, Jr.

Arturo Porcuna, alias "Boy Golden," notorious police character and two of his henchmen were gunned down by members of a rival gang in the room of an apartment in Mandaluyong, Rizal shortly after 2 o'clock this morning. Killed with Porcuna were two new members of his gang known as "Jojo" and Bert". Their real names were not immediately available as they reportedly joined Porcuna's gang only a few days ago.

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Jaime San Miguel, a Porcuna henchman who rented the three-room apartment at No. 91-B Col. F. Vicencio street, told Patrolmen Domiciano Valenciano and Juan Perez who rushed to the scene to investigate that the gunwielders were Eddie Luz, Baby Soriano, Antonio Razon, Rene Sebastian and three others whom he was not able to identify. The gunmen arrived in two cars, a Fairlane and an Impala and motorcycles. As the front door of the apartment was open, they entered without being detected by the occupants. They proceed to the second floor and surprised Porcuna and three of his henchmen while they were opening their Christmas presents, in one of the rooms. They opened fire on the men inside the room and when Porcuna, Jojo and Bert fell, the gunwielders left. San Miguel who was also in the room at the time hid in one of the lockers and was not injured.

The wife of Porcuna known as Marla and Anita Dee, the wife of San Miguel, were in the other room when the shooting took place. With them in their room was their housemaid.

When the police arrived, they found the bodies of Porcua, Jojo and Bert all riddled with bullets. They found on the flo0r empty shells of an automatic carbine and a Thompson submachinegun. The police were inclined to believe that the victims were surprised in the room by the gunmen who were obviously on a mission to liquidate Porcuna and his henchmen.

Follow-up articles on the case--- to read, click images to enlarge---

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Part of the turbulent life of Arturo Porcuna was recreated in a movie directed by Danny Zialcita, titled Hindi Sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna.

I never had a chance to see this movie when it made its theatrical run in 1978. It earned money and made a noise when it won the Gawad Urian's Best Actress for its lead star Beth Bautista. I think it never came out in video format and I am wondering if a copy still exists.

"Hindi Sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna" (1978)- Stars Beth Bautista, Joseph Sytangco, Dick Israel, Anthony Alonzo, Josephine Garcia, Suzanne Gonzales/ Directed by Danny Zialcita

Synopsis:

Halaw sa tunay na pangyayari, isinasaad ng Hindi sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna ang buhay ng kapatid na babae ni Boy Golden, isang kilalang maton noong 1960's. Si Baby Porcuna (Elizabeth Bautista) ay isang mananayaw ng burlesk sa tanghalang pinamamahalaan ni Cris (Dick Israel).. Nahahalayan sa hanapbuhay ng kanyang kapatid, kinuha ni Boy (Anthony Alonzo) si Baby habang nagsasayaw sa tanghalan, at iniuwi sa apartment na kanyang tinutuluyan upang ilayo kay Cris kahit may anak na si Baby rito. Nakilala ni Baby si Tommy (Joseph Sytangco), isang mang-aawit sa tanghalan ni Cris. Nanligaw si Tommy at nag-alok ng kasal. Matapos matuklasan ni Baby ang pakikipag-ulayaw ni Cris sa ibang babae, nabuo ang kanyang pasyang iwanan ito at magpakasal kay Tommy. Naging maunos ang kanilang pagsasama dahil sa kaugnayan ni Baby kay Boy Golden at sa magulong pamumuhay nito. Ang pakikipag-alitan ni Boy dahil sa dalawang babae, kina Emma (Josephine Garcia) at Susan (Suzanne Gonzales) ang naging sanhi ng kanyang kamatayan. Natanto naman ni Cris na tunay na may pagtingin siya kay Baby. Binayaran niya si Tommy upang layuan si Baby. Nasaktan si Baby at bilang ganti ay sinabuyan niya ng asido si Tommy. Nagsisi si Baby nang malamang si Cris ang may kagagawan ng lahat, ngunit tulad ng ugnayan nina Boy, Emma, at Susan, ang kina Baby, Cris, at Tommy ay humantong din sa isang malagim na wakas.

Source: Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino