Fiancée of American to file raps versus suspects

CEBU - Ann Cañete, the fiancée of the American who was robbed and shot last Sunday, went to Cebu City Police Office to show that she is interested in filing a case against the suspects.

The suspects, Tau Gamma fraternity members Carlo Villarin, 32, Christian Dawal, 19 and Roy Rabaca, 23, admitted that they robbed Tim Timmerman and his two American friends in Mabolo last Sunday but denied shooting Timmerman in the abdomen when he chased after them.

Timmerman was with his sister Tammy and their friend Andrew Preston at a convenience store when the three approached them and declared a hold-up.

The tourists handed over their Sony Cyber-shot digital camera and a Canon Vixia digital camcoder to the three who then ran towards barangay Kasambagan where they live.

Timmerman chased the suspects while Tammy and Preston stayed behind. Timmerman caught up with them but Villarin allegedly shot at the American four times. Timmerman, who is to be married this Friday, was only hit once in the abdomen.

He was brought to the Perpetual Succour Hospital.

Personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group, Theft and Robbery Section and the Mabolo Police Station conducted a hot pursuit operation and arrested the suspects, but only the digital camcoder was recovered.

“Si Villarin ilado kaayo ni siya sa ilahang lugar nga hitman sa ilang grupo nga Tau Gamma fraternity mao ni karon nga amo niya ning tan-awon ngadto sa korte ug unsa gud nga kaso ang gikalambigitan ni Villarin,” TRS chief Sr. Insp. Michael Bastes said.

But Villarin denied he was a “hitman” of the fraternity.

“Dili ko hitman sa Tau Gamma oy! Bag-o paman gani ko naka-survive sa among initiation,” Villarin said.

Villarin added that the incident was his first robbery after they took a fancy to robbing the Americans and insisted that he was not the one who shot Timmerman.

A paraffin test was conducted on the three suspects to determine who really shot Timmerman after none of them admitted to the deed. Bastes also said that they also found drug paraphernalia in Villarin’s pockets.

Bastes said the suspects face three counts of robbery with physical injury and illegal possession of firearms.

Timmerman arrived in Cebu only last Saturday to marry Cañete, a Filipina nurse he met in Wisconsin, United States. – Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP(THE FREEMAN)