Third ‘field trip’ culprit gives up to clear name

CEBU, Philippines - The third suspect in the commandeering and abandonment of several vehicles and the shooting of two people in what he called their “field trip” has surrendered to authorities in Ormoc City last Saturday, two weeks after their the incident last May 25.

Renante “Tambok” Baylosis, was escorted by City Intelligence Branch operatives of Cebu City upon his arrival from Ormoc late Saturday afternoon.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, CIB chief, said Baylosis’ mother Isidra coordinated with him past 9 a.m. Saturday and told him that her son intends to surrender.

Santander said he immediately arranged for the suspect’s security, especially that Baylosis’ mother told him that his son was afraid that he might be killed.

Some suspicious looking persons, Santander was told, were seen around Quijano Compound in Barangay Calamba where Baylosis lives and were asking neighbors if the suspect was around.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Baylosis said he fled to Ormoc for his safety.

He said relatives advised him that he would be safe in Ormoc, where he hid for several days.

Baylosis, though, became uneasy so he decided to surrender. He requested his  mother to coordinate with Santander so he could “clear” his name.

He alleged that on the day of the incident, met Manuel “Patchoy” Corominas who, allegedly at gunpoint, told him to accompany him for a “field trip.”

“Field trip ta. Kung manaog mo pamatyon gyud ta mo (We are going on a field trip.  If you disembark from this taxi, I will kill both of you),” he said, quoting Corominas.  Baylosis said a third suspect, a minor, was also forced at gunpoint to join Corominas.

Baylosis said Corominas told them that if they try to escape he will shoot and kill them. Fearing for their lives, he and the minor went with Corominas  his “field trip” until he allowed them to go home.

The “field trip” which happened allegedly after a pot session, includes commandeering a taxicab, three motorcycles, a multicab, and an SUV driven by a doctor whom Corominas shot, looking for someone to kill inTalisay City, and shooting the driver of one of the motorcycles.

“Sir napugos lang gyud ko ato kay kung di ko mokuyog niya iya man ming patyon (I was just forced to join him),” Baylosis said.

“Wa man gyud ko mo-apil ato sir.  Bisan si Dra. Rivera kahibawo gyud sir (I did not participate in committing the crimes. Even Dr. Rivera could attest to that),” he said, referring to Dr. Eleanor Rivera, the SUV driver.

Baylosis said that after the incident, he stayed in their house for several days; but as soon as he heard that an acquaintance, a certain Teodorico Tolentino Jr., was killed past 9 p.m. on May 29, he felt unsafe and fled to Ormoc.

He gave himself up, however, to prove his innocence.

“Inosente ko sir.  Nisurender ko aron malimpoyohan akong ngalan mao man sad nay gipasalig ni Sir Santander nako,” he said.

Corominas was arrested last June 2, or a day after CIB operatives caught the minor cohort, who told authorities about his crimes and lead them where he could be found.

Corominas has owned up the killing of 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 likewise 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. (FREEMAN)