Two more assailants identified

CEBU, Philippines -Police said they have identified two more assailants in the killing of a former Kuratong Baleleng gang member, his live-in partner and their three-year-old son in Lapu-Lapu City last Thursday.

However, police are withholding the names while they are preparing the affidavit of witnesses to support the filing of charges against the suspected assailants.

Last Friday, three counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder were filed by the police before the City Prosecutor’s Office against a certain Rick Cadavero, one of the four men who shot the three victims. This leaves only one assailant in the killing still unidentified.

 Cadavero is reportedly another member of the robbery gang.

The victims last Thursday were identified as Fernando Canillo, 58, a native of Iligan City, his live-in partner Emma Beronguis, 36, a native of Ozamiz City, and their three-year-old son.

Beronguis’ brother, Ricric, was shot in the neck during the attack and is still in the hospital.

Fernando’s legal wife, Alona, denied his involvement in the Kuratong Baleleng gang.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office did not release yesterday the remains of Canillo, Beronguis and their son to a woman who identified herself as the mother of Emma, who arrived the other night.

However, LLCPO director Senior Supt. Anthony Obenza yesterday clarified that if Charita Larano Beronguis can show legal documents that she is indeed the mother of Emma he will release her cadaver which is still at the St. Francis Funeral Parlor in Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City.

Charita only brought along with her her voter’s ID when she arrived in Lapu-Lapu City from Infanta, Quezon.

Charita said that she has long been living in Quezon Province and heard only of the death of her daughter via text message from her niece.

But since she lacked the documents to show proof that Emma was her daughter, Charita allowed Alona to take care of the burial of her daughter and grandchild in Ozamiz City.

Alona already presented documents she is Fernando’s legal wife, but she is still waiting for money to pay the funeral parlor.

Alona yesterday tried to get permission from the police if she could get one of the land titles being kept by Fernando so she can use it as guarantee for her loan after she learned that the funeral parlor charged more than P100,000 for the three cadavers, but the police said they cannot grant her request.

Meanwhile, the victim’s neighbors are now starting to complain about the stench from the victim’s house.

SPO1 Manolito Abellanosa, who came to check the house yesterday, said that the blood on the floor of the victim’s house had not yet been cleaned.

“Mura’g lain man akong paminaw pagsulod nako, mora ba’g adunay tawo diha sa sulod,” Abellanosa told reporters. (FREEMAN)