Bacolod doc killed by Facebook friend

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — A prominent physician here was brutally killed at his residence allegedly by two teenagers, one of whom was a minor he got acquainted with through social networking site Facebook.

The 63-year-old Dr. Andres Gumban, a respected pulmonologist, was found dead at his residence at Regent Pearl Subdivision in Barangay Alijis of this city on Thursday at about 10:45 p.m.,

City Police director Sr. Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said Gumban, who owned several businesses in this city, sustained multiple stab wounds on the neck, chest and stomach, and was in a fetal position when found at his bathroom.

De la Paz identified the two suspects as Fof Pascual Jr., 18, a resident of Barangay Tadlong in Sagay City, and a 16-year-old, whose name the police withheld, of Barangay Magsaysay in Cadiz City.

Based on initial investigation, de la Paz said Gumban and the 16-year-old boy became friends on Facebook last March and had met last week. 

The minor had previously gone to the doctor’s house and in his visit last Thursday, he brought along his friend Pascual to meet the doctor, de la Paz said.

The suspects were reportedly fetched by Gumban at the Ceres North Terminal, and bought food and liquor at a mall before proceeding to the doctor’s house, de la Paz said.

The minor claimed he was taking a bath when Gumban, allegedly armed with a kitchen knife, went inside the bathroom and tried to molest him. He claimed it was only out of self defense that he wrestled with the weapon and stabbed the doctor repeatedly.

However, de la Paz said the minor’s story may be hard to believe because the victim was already old and weak compared to the young suspects.

Pascual, for his part, said he was watching the television when the incident happened. He said he was surprised when he saw the doctor already dead at the bathroom. Out of fear, he claimed he tried to get out of the house but he was nabbed by the neighbors of the victim.

De la Paz said they are now looking at robbery as the motive of the crime, but it was not carried out by the suspects after the neighbors who heard the commotion entered the victim’s house to investigate.

A personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who is a neighbor of Gumban, said he heard a commotion at Gumban’s house. He then went to the victim’s house and saw the two suspects, who would not let him in. But when he peeped through the window and saw bloodstains near the bathroom, he kicked the door open and arrested the suspects.

De la Paz said the suspects are now detained at the lockup cell of Bacolod Police Station 7, while charges are being readied against them. (FREEMAN)