Two brothers in Tuburan arrested for rape, murder

Two brothers, with arrest warrants for murder and rape cases, were arrested at sitio Busay, barangay Mag-atubang, Tuburan town Thursday morning.

The Tuburan Police, in a joint operation with the military, arrested 18-year-old Rebe Pepito, 18, and his 15-year-old younger brother, both of who are now detained at the town jail pending the trial of their cases in court.

Regional Trial Court-Toledo City Judge Gaudioso Villaren issued the arrest warrant against the two brothers for allegedly raping a minor, and another arrest warrant without bail for a murder charge.

Tuburan policeman, SPO1 Abel de los Santos, yesterday told The Freeman the two were accused of raping a 14-year-old sometime in 2003 at sitio Kalbasa-an, barangay Cabangcalan, of the town. That time, the brothers were still aged 15 and 12.

The murder case against the siblings happened sometime in 2004, the policeman said although he could not recall who the victim was, and other details of the crime, except that it happened in Tuburan also.

De los Santos further said the arrested suspects were with four others when the rape happened, and, the following year, were with the same people at the time of the murder.

"Sila ra gihapon grupoha ang nihimo sa murder, sila (unom) maoy pirme suspek," de los Santos said, alleging also that the brothers have a group with guns and knives in the mountain barangay

Police are still conducting a follow up operation for the arrest of the companions of the Pepito brothers. - Norvie S. Misa