Victim ‘refused’ to pay fare Driver kills Asturias exec’s brother-in-law

CEBU, Philippines - A brother-in-law of Asturias town Vice Mayor Joel Dumdum was killed by a motorcycle driver for allegedly refusing to pay his fare from Balamban to Asturias Friday morning in Sitio Makalolooy, Barangay Owak, Asturias.

Rustico Flores, husband of the elder sister of Dumdum and from Sitio Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Poblacion, Asturias, was found lifeless in a mangrove area with a rope looped in the neck with the other end tied to a mangrove’s branch past 7 a.m. Friday.

His cadaver was found about four kilometers from his house.

Hours later, police arrested Samuel Marfega, 34, of Sitio Combado, Barangay Cantuod, Balamban, after he was identified by witnesses to be the last person seen with Flores.

SPO1 John Philip Acaso, investigator, said that they were able to track Marfega based on the motorcycle key they recovered from the scene, aside from a mobile phone.

Acaso said that Flores asked Marfega to transport him from Balamban to Asturias town for a one-way ride earlier that day. There Flores even asked Marfega to drink with him at a store near the Poblacion Sports Center where Flores was a regular customer.

A witness also alleged that Flores assured Marfega to pay him P200 for the fare but they have to drink together first, which was agreed by the suspect.

Later that day, Flores asked Marfega to transport him to his house to change clothes so they can proceed to a karaoke bar in a beach area of Barangay Owak.

Police immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation and arrested Marfega in Barangay Nangka, Balamban. He, however, admitted the crime, saying he got irked after he was slapped by Flores when he asked for the fare which he supposed to buy for his daughter’s milk.

“Pagpaningil na kuno niya kay gidapog siya sa biktima maong napatay niya sa kalagot,” Acaso said in a phone interview.

Police verified the key by testing it with the motorcycle.

Acaso said they will be filing homicide charges against Marfega tomorrow at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Marfega is now detained at the Asturias police stockade.  (FREEMAN)