Brothers arrested for man's murder

CEBU, Philippines - Two brothers who were allegedly involved in the killing of a construction worker last year were arrested Wednesday evening in their residence sitio Tikyan in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

A team led by Homicide chief P/Insp. Ramil Morpos served an arrest warrant, signed by RTC Branch 26 Judge Marilyn Lagura-Yap, to Giovannie "Bansot" Jumao-as, 31, and his younger brother Alberto "Undo" Jumao-as, the second time the warrant was served to them.

When the warrant was served for the first time in their home early this year, the brothers denied they were the accused named in the warrant.

But witnesses have pointed to the brothers as the ones who killed Exel Pacana, 23, of barangay Maguikay last March 27.  

Police said they relied on the description given by witnesses to locate the brothers since they did not have pictures of the two men.

Last Wednesday evening, the policemen went to the Jumao-as' home again, and Alberto, who met Morpos at the door, at first said he was either Giovannie or Alberto but told the official he was a cousin of the brothers the police were looking for.

Alberto's mother, who pretended to be their aunt, joined the conversation.

At this point, Morpos said he became suspicious when Alberto called her aunt "Ma" and then quickly corrected himself by calling her "auntie" again.

On the other hand, Giovannie must have noticed their house was swarming with policemen because he hurriedly left the place.

The police took Alberto to the precinct, and there he admitted being the Alberto named in the warrant after a witness positively identified him and his brother as the killers.

Giovannie later surrendered to the police.

The Jumao-as brothers and Pacana and his group nearly came to blows at a benefit dance in sitio Barlap in barangay Banilad last year.

At dawn, Pacana and a companion went home on a motorcycle.

As the two passed by the Jumao-as' house, the Jumao-as brothers, according to witnesses, shot Pacana twice, hitting him in the back. He fell from the motorcycle.

The brothers hurriedly left the crime scene and from then on had been on the run. (FREEMAN)