Barangay chieftain nabbed for murder

A reelected barangay captain in Toledo City was arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for his alleged involvement in a murder case two years ago.

Barangay captain Eduardo Alicaba Sr., 54, of Canlumampao, Toledo City was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Cesar Estrera of the city’s Regional Trial Court Branch 29.

Alicaba, who was reelected last Monday for his second term, was implicated in the death of Murphy Balmori, 26, of barangay Ilihan.

Arrested together with Alicaba were his two sons Eduardo Jr., 30, a barangay tanod, and Nelson, 23, and their neighbor, Cecilio Sanchez, 33. Estrera recommended no bail for their temporary release.

The CIDG team led by Chief Insp. Rex Derilo, Chief Insp. Fermin Armendares and Sr. Insp. Patrick Vaño waited since Friday until the end of the elections before implementing the arrest warrant against the four.

Victoriana Balmori, the mother of the victim, told The Freeman that her son was brutally murdered by the suspects in the dawn of October 1, 2005 during a benefit dance.

She said her son and his friends got into trouble with other teenagers on the dance floor but were outnumbered and ran for their safety. She added that witnesses saw the suspects were among those who chased her son, who managed to hide in the house of his aunt.

But the suspects reportedly entered the house and asked the dwellers to surrender Balmori to them for safekeeping at the barangay hall.

While on the way to the barangay hall, the suspects allegedly mauled and shot Balmori. The victim’s aunt, who accompanied him during the incident, ran for safety and went into hiding for fear of her life.

For his part, Alicaba vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that he and his son Eduardo Jr. were in the hospital at the time of the shooting because one of his sons, Nestor, also a barangay tanod, was stabbed by Balmori during the commotion at the benefit dance.

Alicaba said they even filed a frustrated murder charge against Balmori and his companions, brothers Ryan and Ian Igloria. The Igloria brothers allegedly held his son while Balmori stabbed him twice.

 “Nahibulong bitaw ko nganong pag-file nila sa kaso giapil ko. Ang ako lang unta adto gipapangita tong gipatay aron dad-on sa barangay hall, unya wala ta kabalo nga dunay mga paryente namo nga nakadungog pagkahibalo sa nahitabo kang Nestor, siguro giambusan si Balmori didto sa ngitngit,” Alicaba calmly said.

Eduardo Jr. also denied the allegations, claiming that he was with his pregnant wife during Balmori’s killing while Sanchez also claimed that he was sick at that time.

Alicaba suspected that his political opponents were behind the inclusion of his name in the murder case because the two companions of Balmori were nephews of his former political rival.

The family of the victim initially filed a complaint before the Ombudsman-Visayas against Alicaba and ten other barangay officials but only four of them were recommended to be criminally charged for the murder. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM