Man arrested, admits rob-slay of therapist

CEBU, Philippines - A 24-year-old man who confessed in the killing of a female therapist was arrested when he returned to Barangay Agsungot two days after he committed the crime.

Arnel Taburnal, 24, a native of Canangga, Leyte, was arrested Wednesday evening by the barangay officials after he was seen at the barangay sports complex. Taburnal was turned over to the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office but not after he was heavily beaten up by the bystanders in the barangay.

Taburnal admitted killing Maricris Villadolid, 24, last Sunday. According to him, he was really on his way to give himself in when he was arrested by the barangay officials and beaten up by a throng of bystanders.

“Mi-uli na gyud ko kay duha na ko ka-adlaw di-makatulog, na konsensya napud ko sa akong gibuhat (I went home because I could not sleep for the past two days because of guilt),” Taburnal said.

Taburnal said he visited Villadolid’s house to sell copra but the victim declined.

“Di-siya mopalit kay wa siyay kwarta mao nga nawala gyud ko sa akong kaugalingon ug ako gi-sampungan ang iyang baba,” Taburnal said.

Taburnal said he brought the victim to a hillside almost a kilometer away from her house where he tied her hands, feet and mouth.

The victim reportedly pleaded for her life and freedom but he was already afraid and confused of what to do. Taburnal said he decided to burry the victim alive in a shallow pit.

“Sa akong kahadlok, ako nalang siya gilubong aron di siya ma kit-an sa mga tawo,” he said. 

After burying the victim, Taburnal fled from the area and took refuge in a friend’s house in Barangy Opon, Lapu-Lapu City for two days.

But his extreme guilt consumed him prompting Taburnal to return to Agsungot supposedly to surrender.

 “Kahibaw napud ko unsa madangatan nako pag-uli nako,” Taburnal said.

Villadolid was reported missing last Sunday evening by his live-in partner, Richard Tabumal, at the Talamban Police Station after she allegedly failed to return from work.   

Her body was unearthed last Monday in a bamboo field few meters away from their house. (FREEMAN)