ILOILO CITY-The National Bureau of Investigation has upheld the results of a police investigation that tagged the sons of an Iloilo businessman as suspects in the killing of their father, stepmother and half-sister.

In a ten-page report dated March 16 and submitted to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., the NBI Western Visayas Regional Office said there is "no convincing and substantial evidence" that would alter the findings of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against Archie and Jan Michael Tan.

The CIDG had earlier filed two counts of murder and a count of parricide against the brothers for the January 8 killing of their father Francisco "Bobby" Tan, stepmother Cynthia Zayco-Tan and their six-year-old half-sister Katherine.

The case is undergoing preliminary investigation before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office. The Department of Justice earlier issued a hold departure order against the two boys.

The victims were found dead with multiple stab wounds in the chest at the two-story family mansion in Molo District at dawn on January 9. Tan's body was found on his bed in the master bedroom, Cynthia in Archie's room, adjacent to the master bedroom, while Kathy was found at the doorway of her parent's room.

The brothers are Tan's sons from a previous relationship. The slain couple has five children who are now staying with their mother's family in Kabankalan town in Negros Occidental.

The report, signed by lawyer Mario Sison, NBI acting regional director, gave weight to the testimonies of three children of the slain couple that Archie, 20, and Jan Michael, 18, bore a deep grudge against Cynthia because she had always admonished the two brothers for "acts of imprudence and foolishness."

The report also noted the children's testimonies that their slain parents were conscious of their security and had installed a double lock on their bedroom. The children said the couple would have only opened the door to their bedroom to family members or familiar persons.

The brothers have denied involvement in the crime and had told investigators that they sneaked out of the house around 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 9 to go barhopping and discovered the victims' remains when they returned home around 3 a.m.

But in its complaint, the CIDG pointed to an inside job and said that the evidence they gathered showed the brothers were in the house when the victims were killed and showed probable cause for the filing of the case.

The NBI conducted a separate investigation upon orders of Gonzalez after Tan's aunt and family matriarch, businesswoman Conchita Tan, questioned the findings of the CIDG investigation.

Conchita has alleged that the family of Cynthia could have masterminded the killings as part of a scheme to control the Tan's family business.

The family owns the Crown Agro Chemical, a chain of stores selling pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs.

The family matriarch also suspected that a security guard that was formerly assigned to the family could be involved in the killings.

But the NBI report said Conchita's accusations are "purely allegations and speculations."

The motive of the crime remains unclear, however, said the NBI report. It said "quantum proof must be satisfied to uphold the conviction" of the suspects even if the CIDG has tagged the brothers for the crime based on circumstantial evidence.*NPB

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