2 suspects nabbed for young man’s brutal killing

Local

“Mga salbahis gyud sila (They are ruthless).”

Jenny Viernes said this, directing her grief and anger at two suspects arrested for the brutal killing of her 24-year-old son in Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City.

Jenny is the mother of Isaac, whose body was found buried at a vacant lot in Pahina Central on Oct. 19–about two weeks after he disappeared.

Based on the extra judicial confession of one of the suspects, Isaac was mauled, trampled, and stabbed.

One of the assailants finished Isaac off by shooting him in the head.

Amid the grief, Jenny said she is relieved that her son’s alleged killers have been arrested.

“Lipay gyud ko kaayo kay grabe ka brutal ang gihimo nila sa akung anak. Angay rana sila nga maparusahan kay mga salbahis gyud sila wala silay kaluoy nga wala may sala ang akung anak,” said Jenny, who visited the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 22.

First to be arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 20, was Justine.

Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, deputy city director for operations of CCPO, said a firearm and a grenade were recovered from Justine during the arrest.

Ewo, 24, another suspect, surrendered on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21. Both men are from Pahina Central.

Police later learned that Ewo had a pending arrest warrant for attempted murder. The warrant was served upon his surrender.

In front of a lawyer and other witnesses, Ewo executed an extra judicial confession, admitting his participation in the gruesome crime.

Ewo admitted repeatedly stabbing Isaac in the neck. He pointed to Justine as the one who shot the victim in the head.

The culprits then brought the victim to the old Citilink Terminal and buried him there.

Prior to the incident, Ewo and his friends were having a drinking session when they were informed that the sister of their friend, a certain Ar-ar, was harassed by a group of men who were also drinking at a convenience store.

Ewo and his friends went to the convenience store to check.

Ewo and his friends found no one at the store that prompted them to proceed to the back of the barangay gym where they had been drinking.

On their way to the gym, Ewo’s group met Isaac. A confrontation broke out.

Ewo punched Isaac, sending him crashing to the ground. Ar-ar arrived and joined the fray by repeatedly trampling Isaac.

Upon Ar-Ar’s instruction, Ewo said he stabbed Isaac in the neck.

Ewo said that when they noticed that Isaac was no longer moving, they brought him to the back of the Citilink where Justine, armed with a KG9 pistol, shot the victim in the head.

Ewo said Isaac was still breathing when he was shot.

Pelare said Ewo turned himself in because his conscience was troubling him.

Pelare added that Ewo’s confession bolstered the pieces of evidence and the witnesses that investigators had gathered to prove the arrested suspects’ involvement in the crime.

“Atung nakita sa atung imbestigasyon naay tulo ka principal suspects, mao ni gitawag nato og suspects by direct participation, silang tulo nag conspire nga himuon to ang krimen, ang usa ga dunggab ang usa gasugo ang usa maoy nipusil,” said Pelare.

Pelare said two other individuals who may have “indispensable cooperation” are being pursued.

Pelare did not confirm reports that the two suspects were job-order employees of the Cebu City government.

Revenge was the motive of the killing, Pelare said.

Isaac reportedly got into trouble with someone who happens to be a friend of the suspects.

Pending the formal filing of charges, the case cannot be considered as solved yet, said Pelare.(CDB)