Former barangay captain arrested for homicide

A former barangay captain is now detained at the Sibonga police station after stabbing dead a 39-year-old man in barangay Candaguit, Sibonga town, last Saturday dawn.

Franklin Lopez alias "Joel", a freelance driver and a resident of the place was stabbed by former Candaguit barangay captain Buenaventura Abella, 41.

Sibonga police station desk officer and deputy investigator PO2 Antonio Sanchez yesterday told The Freeman that Abella passed by the victim who was drinking with a group of men at a sari-sari store by the roadside of the said place.

The group, which came from a wake of a neighbor nearby, called him to join them in drinking and he agreed as most of them were his friends.

At the height of their drinking session, an argument ensued between the suspect and a certain "Randy", that prompted the victim to try to pacify the trouble, but the suspect turned his anger on the victim and stabbed him with a knife.

The suspect and Randy were allegedly talking about their past and suddenly remembering their old grudges that caused their heated argument, Sanchez said.

The victim sustained a single stab wound at the right portion of his chest and was immediately brought to the Deiparine Medical Clinic in the town for immediate medical treatment. He was later transferred to the Vicente Memorial Medical Center where he died hours later.

The suspect fled right after the incident but about 9:00 a.m. that same day he went to the police station accompanied by SPO4 Sofronio "Boy" Caballes, who is detailed at Carcar police station, and a resident of barangay Mangyan, an adjacent barangay of Candaguit.

Sanchez however, said that the weapon used in the killing was not recovered as the suspect alleged he forgot where he threw it while he was fleeing.

"Unsaon man nga nahitabo naman so iya na lang dawaton og unsay hukom sa labaw nga hukmanan," Sanchez also quoted the suspect as saying.

Abella served as barangay captain in their barangay for more than 10 years and ended his term in 2002.

He is now detained at the police station while the appropriate charges are set to be filed against him today. - Norvie S. Misa