Gun might match one used in killing lawyer

CEBU, Philippines - Ballistics examinations on the .45-caliber pistol, recovered from one of four robbery suspects who were killed by the police in Sta. Catalina town three weeks ago, could also be the same gun used in the murder of lawyer Ramon Eduardo Elesteria outside a court in Bayawan City last month.

Superintendent Dominiciano Distrito Jr, OIC chief of the Bayawan City Police, said the empty shell and slugs recovered from the gun of slain robbery suspect, Bonifacio Castanes Jr, were found to have similar characteristics to the evidences taken from the crime scene where the lawyer was killed.

This matter was reported during the Peace and Order Council meeting held last week at the former legislative office in the Capitol, where updates on the series of shooting incidents in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental were discussed.

Distrito also told the POC the facial profile of Castanes, a habal-habal driver, had similarities on one of four facial composites, done by an sketch artist from Cebu, of the four suspected killers of Elesteria.

As this development, Distrito said the Bayawan Police considered the Elesteria case as “cleared,” but the lawyer’s relatives said they could not accept such pronouncement.

They said their demand for justice remained as they called on the Bayawan Police to continue looking for the three other suspects the identification of the mastermind in the killing of the lawyer.

Meanwhile, besides Castanes, the other robbery suspects killed in the Sta. Catalina police operations were identified, except for the fourth, as Marcos Pastula Garsula, alias Michael, and Junjun Surbito — all residents of Kalamtukan, Bayawan City. (FREEMAN)