Police claim they now know student's killer

Investigators of the Theft and Robbery Section claim they have identified the man who shot and killed a third year college student inside a jeepney last week in barangay Cogon-Pardo.

The TRS asked the Homicide Section to prepare the case against a resident of barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, even if he is still at large. He is accused of shooting dead 19-year-old Carmela Cabañog, a native of barangay Salamanca, Ginatilan town, after she would not give him her bag.

Chief Inspector Ambrocio Ibones of the TRS said the assailant was once an errand boy in the store of his uncle in the Carbon Market.

Ibones said that a few days after the robbery the assailant was last seen at the house of his uncle in Salvador Street, barangay Labangon, Cebu City, where he reportedly asked relatives for money. Police believe that the assailant might be planning to leave Cebu City after learning that the police are after him.

Ibones said that the assailant belongs to the group of a certain Abay-abay and Ritchelle whose robberies are concentrated along Highway Tagunol.

Based on the information obtained from the suspect's relatives, police are convinced that he is responsible for the crime. Ibones added that the assailant reportedly told his relatives that he would rather commit suicide than surrender to lawmen.

Inspector Erlando Metante, acting chief of the Homicide Section told The Freeman that he will be waiting for the relatives of Cabañog from Ginatilan to file formal charges against the assailant.

The Homicide Section already has two witnesses, one of whom has signed an affidavit. The other promised to issue a statement once the assailant is formally charged.

It was the killing of Cabañog that prompted the police hierarchy to redeploy secret marshals inside jeepneys and order more checkpoints. - Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP