MANILA - Authorities are investigating the claim of the 26-year-old suspect in the massacre of an entire family in Bulacan that he may have acted alone in committing the crime.

"As of now, isa pa lang po ang suspect natin. It will be a continuing investigation for us. We will not stop. We will continue investigating," said Police Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Director of the Police Regional Office 3.

Aquino said the suspect, identified as Carmelino Ibañez, was among six persons of interest. He was positively identified by a key witness.

"After committing the crime, he went out of the house with bloodstained hands and shirt. Saktong may naglalakad pauwi and that was about 3 in the morning and he saw the suspect with bloodstained hands. Hindi tagaroon ang witness, napadaan lang siya dahil pauwi na. Yun ang naging key witness namin para ma-resolve ang crime na ito," Aquino said.

But before he was presented to media, Aquino said he again asked for the names of his accomplices.

"Hindi niya maalala. Pero ang sabi niya 'Sir, mukhang ako lang ang nandoon at nag commit ng crime'," said Aquino.

The suspect confessed to the crime in front of his mother and sister, police said.

Before committing the crime, he and two others, only identified as Tony and Inggo, had a drinking spree and used shabu.

"On his way home, bigla na lang daw may bumulong sa kanya na pasukin niya bahay ng biktima and since naka-lock yung front door, doon siya sa likod. May nakahambalang daw lang na kahoy kaya madali niyang nabuksan," Aquino said.

The suspect lives in the same subdivision, just two blocks away from the victims' house.

Aquino said the suspect first killed the grandmother who was sleeping downstairs. He then raped her.

At this point, Estrella, the wife of Dexter Carlos, heard a commotion and went downstairs to check.

"Nung nakita niyang nire-rape, tumakbo siya sa likod ng bahay para tumakas siguro. Ang ginawa nung suspect, hinabol niya yung mother and again doon niya sinaksak ulit. Pagbagsak niya doon, she sustained 45 stab wounds. Nung namatay, ni-rape niya ulit," Aquino said.

After raping Estrella, he heard a commotion upstairs and then stabbed the children dead too.

Estrella sustained 45 stab wounds, her mother Auring had 32. The eldest child sustained 15 stab wounds, his sister was stabbed 19 times, and their 1-year-old brother was stabbed 5 times.

The suspect told police that he used a knife he found in the victims' kitchen to kill the family.

"Kayang-kaya niyang gawin ito. Unang-una, bata itong gumawa. He is just 26 years old. Wala rin lalaki sa loob, puro babae saka matatanda na rin. It was done early morning. Nabigla din siguro mga tao doon sa bahay kaya kayang-kaya niya," Aquino said.

He added they will continue to investigate other persons of interest.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan Police Director, said the pieces of evidence found in the crime scene, like hair strands, finger clippings on the victims' bodies and vaginal swabs, will help them know if there is more than one suspect.

"After examining recovered evidence, malalaman natin kung may kasama siya," Caramat said.

The knife was found around 50 to 70 meters away from the crime scene or almost in front of the suspect's house, police said.

"Lahat ng material evidence will be subjected to forensics examination," said Aquino.