Suspect in Batangas student’s slay nabbed

Batangas City – After almost a week, police finally arrested one of the seven suspects in the killing of a 16-year-old high school student and scion of a prominent Batangas clan.

Superintendent Christopher Tambungan, Batangas City police chief, said the suspect, Michael Fancubit, 24, a resident of Barangay Sta Rita Kalsada this city, was tagged by a lone witness as one of the seven alleged killers of Vicente Julian Pastor, a high school junior at the University of Batangas.

JV is the son of Julian Pastor and Everlita Nea and a grandson of former Batangas City councilor Dr. Vicente Pastor and Priscila Pastor, a retired chief nurse of the Batangas Regional Hospital.

Police said Fancubit was arrested when a police informant reported seeing him in front of the Caedo Mall. Lawmen later cornered him along JP Rizal street in Barangay Poblacion.

During investigation, Fancubit denied any hand in the young Pastor’s killing.

“Patunayan nyo munang may kinalaman ako dyan (Prove first if I was involved in it),” he said, insisting that he was not in Batangas City when the crime happened.

Pastor’s stab-ridden body was found near the Calumpang Bridge in Barangay Pallocan West at around 6:30 a.m. last Jan. 17.

He was last seen with his brother at Alpa Hotel after finishing their swimming practice at around 8 p.m. the previous day.

While on their way home, Pastor decided to buy balot at the city plaza and asked his brother and their driver to go ahead, telling them that he would just take a tricycle going home.

Pastor failed to reach home that night, prompting his father to report his disappearance to the police the next day.

When the elder Pastor reported his son’s disappearance, he was shocked when a police officer informed him that they recovered the body of a teenager, who later turned out to be the young Pastor.

The elder Pastor told The STAR that his son was planning to become a priest, and described him to be peace-loving and shy and a good son.

The Pastor clan is known in Batangas City for their vast ownership of lands and for their philanthropy, donating lands for schools, public markets and churches.