Case filed in court vs. Gulbin slay suspects

The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office yesterday filed in court charges for robbery with homicide against the four suspects in the murder of a couple in Tabogon town the other week.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the filing of the case against Renan Epanto, 18, Jaskie Pelegria, 21, Eric Mendoza, 22 and a certain Nonoy, all of barangay Managase, Tabogon, before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo. No bail has been recommended for the accused.

Mendoza, who claimed to have participated in the killing of Rufo and Nemesia Gulbin after robbing the couple of P15,000 in the evening of April 1, voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation last Sunday and identified the other suspects.

NBI operatives led by supervising agents Jesus Manapat and Florante Gaoiran immediately went to Tabogon to invite Epanto, Pelegria and Nonoy for questioning.

However, only Epanto and Pelegria were around as Nonoy was nowhere to be found. Mendoza positively identified Epanto and Pelegria during a lineup at the NBI office.

Mendoza, who executed an extra-judicial confession before the NBI, said that he was with the group that killed the Gulbin couple.

Mendoza said that they were on a benefit dance in barangay Lamac when the other suspects arrived and invited him to join in a drinking spree. According to him, he refused when Epanto invited him to go with them. But, Epanto reportedly insisted.

Mendoza said they went to the victims' house in sitio Lub-ang, barangay Managase. Upon reaching there, Epanto reportedly took a nylon cord and immediately entered the house.

Aided by Pelegria, they allegedly used the cord in strangling Nemesia to death while her husband, Rufo, ran for his life outside. Nonoy allegedly followed Rufo and had him hog-tied while Epanto took a piece of wood and hit his head repeatedly until he died.

Mendoza admitted that their group took P15,000 from the couple but added that he was only given P200 and a bottle of beer. He claimed Epanto threatened to kill him if he tells anybody about the incident.

Mendoza said he was bothered by his conscience and promptly approached his uncle, a policeman, who surrendered him to the NBI. - Fred P. Languido