Narding Anzures

Summary

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures was a Filipino former child actor who was tried and convicted of murder after the killing of actress and singer Lilian Velez and her housemaid. He pleaded guilty to two murders on July 19, 1949 and received two sentences of life imprisonment. He later died of tuberculosis two months after his release.

The offence

On the night of June 26, 1948, Bernardo “Narding” Anzures broke into Lilian Velez’s house in Quezon City and stabbed Lilian Velez to death and a housemaid who had come to her mistress’s assistance. The killings were committed within view of Velez’s toddler-daughter, Vivian, who was unharmed during the incident.

The only surviving witness was Velez’s four-year-old daughter.

People

Lilian Velez

Lilian Velez (March 3, 1924 — June 26, 1948) was a Filipino film actress and singer.

Vivian Velez

Vivian Velez was Velez’s daughter and a witness; she was unharmed during the incident.

The housemaid

A housemaid who had come to her mistress’s assistance was stabbed to death.

Investigation and arrest

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures was promptly arrested after the stabbing of Lilian Velez and her housemaid.

Trial

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures was tried and convicted of murder, and later pleaded guilty to two murders on July 19, 1949.

The crime and the subsequent trial was cause celebre in Manila.

Sentencing

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures was sentenced to two sentences of life imprisonment.

Outcome

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures later died of tuberculosis two months after his release. His exact motives for the murder were never fully determined.

Background

Bernardo “Narding” Anzures was the leading man of Lilian Velez in several films. Anzures found out that Lilian Velez was going to have another leading man, Jaime de la Rosa.

Lilian Velez had a brother, Theodoro, a craftsman, and a daughter, Vivian Velez. Vivian made an appearance at the end of Velez’s 1995 film biography.

Murder context and biography details

After the success of Sa Kabukiran, LVN Pictures decided to cast Jaime de la Rosa as Velez’s leading man in her next film. The decision caused distress on the part of Anzures, who had seemingly become obsessed with the married Velez.

On the night of June 26, 1948, Anzures paid an unexpected visit to the Quezon City home of Velez.

1995 film biography

In 1995, the murder of Lilian Velez was the subject of a high-profile film directed by Carlo J. Caparas. Starring Sharon Cuneta as Velez and Cesar Montano as Anzures, the film was one in a string of “true-crime” films churned out by Caparas in the early 1990s.