‘Killer’ owns up crimes committed in spree

CEBU, Philippines - The alleged notorious carnapper and killer Manuel Richards “Patchoy” Corominas has admitted to the killing of two people and shooting of a woman at the vicinity of Ayala Heights in the mountain barangay of Pung-ol Sibugay, Cebu City last week.

City Intelligence Branch and Parian Police Station personnel presented him to Senior Superintendent Noli Romana, Cebu City Police Police Office director, yesterday morning.

Corominas said he was responsible for the killing of Teodorico Tolentino Jr., past 9 p.m. on May 29 in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Labangon.

He also claimed responsibility in the killing of Ronald Colina around 1 p.m. last Wednesday last week in Sitio Lower Day-as, Barangay Day-as.

Colina was a nephew of Cebu City Vice-Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Corominas was also implicated in the death of Victoriano Balungkit and for the frustrated murder of Jerome Pasolohan in Sitio Libo, Barangay Mojon, Talisay City  past 12 p.m. last May 8.

Corominas likewise has a pending case for violation of the anti-carnapping law.

Prior to Corominas’ arrest, CIB operatives caught last March 31 a minor cohort who told authorities about his crimes and lead them where he could be found.

Acting on the information, CIB and Parian policemen responded and arrested Corominas in his Barangay Day-as residence in a joint operation last Sunday.

The police said Corominas had with him a .45 homemade pistol marked “GOVERNMENT MODEL COLT AUTOMATIC CALIBER 45,” a gun magazine with three bullets, a fragmentation grenade, a .38 homemade revolver with defaced serial number, and three more bullets.

Yesterday, he also admitted that he was the one responsible for firing at the motorcycle driven by Gasoni Alibango and shooting Julius Capuno who was riding pillion.

Corominas likewise owned up to hitting one Ramil Abatayo’s head with a handgun and taking his motorcycle, as well as the shooting of Eleanor Rivera and taking her SUV, which Corominas later abandoned.

The police said that last May 25, Corominas had a drug session past 4 p.m. along A. Lopez Street, Barangay Calamba and going to Barangay T. Padilla, where they hailed a taxicab for Talisay City, around 5 p.m.

Corominas and his companion allegedly wanted to kill a certain “MM” but could not find the person. After that, they ordered the taxi driver to go to Flying V Gasoline Station at the Talisay City portion of the South Road Properties.

Sensing something amiss, the driver fled instead, prompting Corominas to take over the wheel and drive the taxicab to Minglanilla town and then back to Cebu City.

At 10 p.m. the same day, the suspects fired at Alibango’s motorcycle and shot Capuno. When Abatayo stopped thinking it was a road accident, Corominas alleged struck him in the head with a gun and took his motorcycle.

Later on, they saw Rivera and shot her then they took her SUV leaving her and her household help behind.

Not satisfied with what they already did, Corominas and his companion then took the motorcycle driven by one John Paul Zamora and then a multicab that they met in the road.

The police said Corominas and the minor then changed clothes, abandoned the multicab in Plaza Housing, Busay, Cebu City, and then rode a public utility jeepney.  (FREEMAN)