Prime suspect in Bogo twin killings surrenders

The prime suspect in the robbery and killing of a moneylender and his live-in partner in barangay Nailon in Bogo town surrendered to the barangay captain of the neighboring barangay Tuesday afternoon.

Juan Alburo is now detained at the Bogo Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges against him.

Alburo hid at the house of his nephew in barangay Udlot when he learned he was being tagged as the prime suspect in the robbery and killing of Tomas Ullamot, 62, and his live-in partner, Flordeliza Mandawe, last Saturday. The victims and the suspect were neighbors.

The bodies of the victims were only found Sunday morning inside their house by their helper, Anita Bulanan.

Alburo asked his nephew to inform Udlot barangay captain Jerry Rivera that he was willing to surrender. Rivera then took Alburo to the Bogo Police Station.

During the police questioning, Alburo revealed the names of three persons whom he claimed were his companions in the crime. The three are now the subject of a police manhunt.

Two of Alburo's companion reportedly came from Batangas City and the other one is a native of Bogo. Alburo claimed that the incident was supposed to be a plain robbery due to their difficult living conditions

Police believed that the killings happened during a power interruption caused by strong winds when Typhoon Seniang hit northern Cebu.

What led to the identification of the suspect was the recovery of a camouflage hat marked with "Alburo" on its back from the room of the victims.

Mandawe, whose body was found in their room wrapped with a mat, sustained a gunshot wound in her head and eye, and her ring finger was cut. Ullamot's body was found at the sala with a gunshot wound in his head.

None of the victims' neighbors heard any gunfire and commotion during the incident.

Police operatives led by P/Insp. Arturo Pacifico recovered documents of lands owned by the victims, an Ingram and two .9mm caliber pistols with silencer fully loaded with ammunitions from Alburo's house.

Prior to the incident, Alburo reportedly arrived from Manila with two Tagalog-speaking companions, giving credence to his confession that his two companions are from Batangas City.

Earlier, Pacifico believed that the twin killings were done by a group of gun-for-hires, saying that the victims belong to prominent families in Bogo and owned a vast property of land. - Gregg M. Rubio/LPM