CEBU, Philippines - A murder charge is set to be filed next week by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch against four people believed to have been responsible in the death of two Korean nationals in the mountain barangay of Sabang, Danao City in November.
Senior Inspector Ramil Morpos, PIDMB investigator, said that they only have circumstantial evidence, based on the affidavits of witnesses.
“Though circumstantial ra pero magamit gyud ang mga statements sa mga witness nga mostly from the area,†Morpos told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.
PIDMB did not immediately file the murder case since they found it hard to convince the witnesses who feared for their lives.
“Kwartahan kuno ang involved unya mahadlok sila sa ilabi na ang statement nga human sa pagbuto dunay mga tao nga nanggawas gikan sa sakyanan,†Morpos said.
He, however, refused to disclose the names of the suspects pending the filing of the case at the fiscal’s office.
Last month, the PIDMB filed charges for carnapping against Warren Sia, a car dealer from Talisay City, and his caretaker, Andriana Ardiente. Sia and Ardiente were tagged in the kidnap-slay of two Korean nationals Yun Sangwon and Kim Mingyu.
Sia was linked into the case based on the sworn affidavits of the two witnesses and based also on circumstantial evidence that he was the last person seen talking to the victims before the two went missing on November 12.
Both victims were then found inside a vehicle. Police believed that the crime was made by more or less five people.
He added that the families also of the victims executed affidavits for the filing of the case.
A few weeks after the incident, PIDMB implemented a search warrant for carnapping and kidnapping at the warehouse owned by Sia in Barangay Pakigne, Minglanilla in which they seized a Mitsubishi Lancer.
The said vehicle was owned by one of the witnesses. It was reportedly borrowed from her by the victims purposely to deal it. However, the vehicle was no longer returned.
Police also recovered a Kia Sorento without proper documents.
Both vehicles are now in the custody of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Morpos explained that the Hyundai Sta. Fe vehicle, where the two charred bodies were found, was also bought from one of the witnesses. Its registration was not yet transferred as it was not yet totally paid.
Both witnesses are also engaged in car-dealing and the two victims acted as middlemen in car-dealing transactions.
Korean consul and police attaché, Park Young Jeung has been coordinating with the police from time to time for updates of the case. —/ATO (FREEMAN)