Cordova killings: 2 witnesses point to drug lord

CEBU, Philippines - Two witnesses have issued affidavits against the alleged drug lord identified by the police as the suspect in the killing of 18-year-old Jennelyn Premacio and her 17-year-old boyfriend Inoc Balorio last Sunday.

Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said the two were reportedly present when the suspect committed the crime.

"Diha man sila during the commission of the crime," he said.

Comendador said his office is now working on placing the two witnesses under the witness protection program.

Murder charges are now being prepared against four people suspected to have done the killing. The Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch are helping in the case and the manhunt of the alleged drug lord and his three cohorts.

Comendador said alleged drug lord's cohorts are small-time guns-for-hire and also acquainted with the alleged drug lord.

"Identified na namo tanan and they are subject of a manhunt operation," he said.

Possible hideouts in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City are being monitored and they will expand the manhunt to other provinces if necessary.

Premacio and her boyfriend were found lifeless in a grassy area in Barangay Buagsong. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Involvement in illegal drugs is being eyed as motive in the killing, as investigation revealed that Premacio reportedly took a big amount of drugs from the suspect, but failed to remit the proceeds.

But Comendador said they cannot discount jealousy as motive in the killing. The alleged drug lord reportedly used to be Premacio's live-in partner before her relationship with Balorio.

"Mas dako ang percentage sa personal relationship kay mura'g dunay selos aside nga involves siya sa drugs," Comendador said.

Premacio had three live-in partners. She had two children with the first guy but they separated. The second man was the alleged drug lord who happened to be the uncle of the first. The third man was Balorio.

An autopsy on Premacio and Balorio's remains showed they died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Dr. Joe Martin Fuentes of the PNP Crime Laboratory 7, said the other day that based on the bullet found on Premacio's head, it is most likely that the gun used by the suspects in killing the two was a .45 caliber pistol.

Aside from the gunshot wound on Premacio's head, Fuentes said the girl was also hit on her chest and neck. Multiple abrasions on her face showed that she was hit by a hard object.

Meanwhile, Fuentes said Balorio sustained a gunshot wound on the back of his head, which went through his upper left eyebrow. Fuentes said that no bullet was found on his body.

Fuentes explained that the two gunshot wounds on both the boy's thighs could be signs that he was tortured first before he was killed.

"Parang pinahirapan muna siya bago siya pinatay base lang sa tama niya," he said.

Based on how the victims were killed, Fuentes opined that it was impossible that only one suspect committed the crime. - THE FREEMAN