Uy murder case: Police looking for ‘third person’ in the car

CEBU, Philippines - The police are now looking for the third person believed to have been in the company of businessman Wayne Christopher Uy and his wife Agnelen when they were allegedly confronted by armed men Wednesday night.

Agnelen was found bound and dead in a car Thursday morning.

Chief Inspector David Señor, Police Community Relations Branch chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said that a man named “Joel” could be the key to the solution of the death of Agnelen.

Joel’s testimony could be instrumental as to his “participation” because he was the third person inside the car when armed men riding in motorcycles allegedly blocked them and drove off with the car with Agnelen still inside past 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Upat ka laki ang sakay sa Picanto, gipakanaog ang driver ug messenger mao tong gibabagan sila, gipakanaog ang bana ug asawa ug si Joel,” said Señor.

The car was found in front of an establishment along Almendras Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, Thursday morning. The victim was found dead in the car with a cloth wrapped around her head and her hands and feet bound in packaging tape.

The victim had bruises in her face near the eyes and also had a gunshot wound in her head.

Hours after the victim was found dead, her husband, who identified her body, was taken into custody by the police. He was asked to undergo a paraffin test.

After the businessman was interviewed by the police his lawyer took him under his custody and the police released him, but they clarified that he was not under arrest and neither is he a suspect.

Senior Inspector Elisandro Quijano, Homicide Section chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said that though the businessman is not a suspect but he is still not off the hook as they consider him a person of interest.

Señor said that a person of interest is not restricted from his movements, he may travel at any time at his convenience but Señor said that flight is usually an admission of guilt.

Quijano for his part said that he will not let his investigators’ efforts be in vain by filing a weak case against anybody because he knows that a weak case will only be dismissed once filed in court.

He said that security footage from an establishment along Almendras Street was retrieved by the police showing a man alighting from the parked car around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Good provider

Meanwhile, the brothers of the victim came to take her body back to La Libertad, Negros Oriental, yesterday.

Jordan Ego-ogan described his sister as a good provider and someone who did not have to be asked before she would give.

“Di na kinahanglan pangayoan,” he said.

His brother, Jerry, said they are not blaming Wayne for what happened to their sister. — Bryner L. Diaz/BRP (FREEMAN)