So young, so criminal: Boy, 16, nabbed in Iranian's slay

CEBU – The Cebu City Police Office has “hit two birds with one stone” following the arrests of the suspects in the killing of an Iranian student and the robbery-shooting of a Bigfoot International employee in just one operation.

It so happened that the suspects in both crimes are “close friends” and neighbors in barangay Kalunasan where three of them were picked up by the police yesterday afternoon and last Friday night.

Another suspect, a 16-year-old boy, who allegedly shot to death Iranian national Ashkan Aminian along Juana Osmeña Extension, barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City last January 22, voluntarily surrendered at the Police Regional Office 7 headquarters at around 4 p.m. yesterday.

The suspect in the Iranian’s slay, allegedly went to Ormoc City the other day to hide from the police after they noticed some police agents making surveillance in their area.

In a phone interview with The FREEMAN last night, his mother said she asked her son to return to Cebu and surrender when she heard reports that he is one of he suspect’s in the killing of Aminian.

She said they asked help from Bernardo Cubar, a policeman assigned at Police Regional Office 7 for his son’s surrender. Upon his arrival at pier 3 yesterday, the young suspect was brought to PRO-7 headquarters at the Camp Sergio Osmeña where he was taken into custody by elements of the Intelligence Division and Management Branch led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan.

Immediately after, the elements of the Theft and Robbery Section brought the suspect to his home in barangay Kalunasan to recover the wallet they took from Aminian but the suspect said he already thrown it away.

The suspect’s companion, Kenneth Gabutan, alias “Kakak,” 18, also surrendered at around 5 a.m. yesterday upon learning that elements of the Homicide Section and the IDMB where looking for him at his elder sister’s residence also in barangay Kalunasan.

The arrest came after the suspect’s neighbor and close friend, also a minor at 16, and a self-confessed robber surrendered to the police last Friday and pointed to the two as the ones who robbed and killed Aminian.

In an interview over DySS, Gabutan narrated that prior the killing of the Iranian national, the alleged gunman went to his house and woke him up, asking him to go out and make some money.

They allegedly boarded a habal-habal (motorcycle for hire) and went to the back of Cebu Doctor’s University and then to Juana Osmeña Extension where they spotted Aminian. The victim was allegedly texting on his cell phone but he immediately placed it inside his pocket when he sensed the suspects’ presence.

“Amo siya gi-duol, pag-ingon sa akong kauban na tirahan ang Iranian minaog ug una si…(companion’s name). Ako siya (Aminian) giingnan na ‘give me your wallet’ unya iya ko dayon gi-sumbag-sumbag. Miatras ko ‘nya paglingi nako, gipusil na siya ni…(companion’s name),” Gabutan narrated.

After the shooting, Gabutan said his friend handed to him the firearm as he drove the motorcycle home after dividing the P380 that Aminian’s wallet contained.

According to Gabutan’s neighbor, the shooting suspect, who happened to be his cousin, allegedly told him that when he shot Aminian he closed his eyes because it was his first time to carry a firearm in conducting a robbery. He did not know that he had hit the Iranian in the face that resulted to his untimely death.

The XRM motorcycle with plate numbers GK 2930 that was allegedly rented by the suspects from Malbert Rama, 23, was also later recovered by the police from its owner.

Rama said Gabutan returned the vehicle to him the morning after the robbery-killing of the Iranian national together with the firearm, adding he let the suspect borrow it because they are close friends.

Ylanan said Rama surrendered the vehicle after they trapped him at his residence in barangay Kalunasan.

At 1 a.m. yesterday, police also recovered the .22 magnum revolver that was believed to be used by the suspects in killing Aminian outside the house of Rama’s late grandfather at sitio Kamparang of the same barangay after his live in partner, Geraldine Dayap, revealed it to the authorities.

Rama allegedly owned the gun used in the shooting prompting police to hold him for interrogation.

Last Friday night, police also arrested another minor, aged 17, at his residence also in barangay Kalunasan for allegedly shooting Pauline Denisse Osorio, 20, and taking away her bag that contained a laptop and two cellular phones around 3:30 a.m. last Thursday at the corner Rosales Street and Juan Luna Avenue, barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

The minor was picked up by the police after the neighbor of the suspects in the shooting of the Iranian recognized him through a cartographic sketch that was shown to him by Bastes.

Aporado Nacilla, a friend of Osorio who was with her during the incident, also positively identified the minor as the one who shot his friend.

The suspect’s companion, another 16-year-old boy, who acted as the driver, was arrested yesterday morning after he was identified by seminarians who witnessed the incident.

It is said that the suspects are close friends and always rob together, an allegation they strongly denied.

CCPO director Patrocinio Comendador, Jr. said they already consider the two cases solved. — /WAB (THE FREEMAN)