Man, minor charged for beheading buddy

CEBU, Philippines - A charge for murder was filed yesterday against a 21-year-old man and a minor for allegedly decapitating their friend for being too much of a braggart in sitio Kalumboyan, barangay Buhisan, this city last Sunday dawn.

The charge was filed against Richie Subcay, 21, and the minor, who is a relative of him, after surrendering to the police past noontime on the same day.

The minor denied his involvement in the crime as, though he was a drinking buddy both of the suspect and the victim, he went ahead of the two after the three of them decided to proceed to a benefit dance at sitio Puso. This was after having a drinking session at a store owned by Shirley Autor.

Subcay, who confirmed that the minor was not involved in the incident, claimed he was the one who beheaded Jun Orum Ngujo, 22, with the use of a knife, though the minor insisted that Subcay used a scythe. The weapon, which Subcay said he threw away immediately after the incident, has not yet been found.

The minor said he was “just so surprised such could happen to Jun” as he did not notice of the two figuring in a verbal tussle since they were still in a drinking session at a house of a friend the previous night until they bought rum and concentrated iced tea at Autor’s store and sat there to resume drinking.

It was Subcay who alleged that an argument suddenly ensued between him and Ngujo who he described as “lain kung mahubog” when they were already at the store. He further alleged that way back at their friend’s house he was already irked at the victim for reportedly hurting his cousin, who was also involved in their drinking spree, but that he “just kept his temper”.

He narrated that when they were already heading for the dancing hall with the minor, Ngujo suddenly stabbed him with the said knife, wounding his left arm. But when he was able to grapple for the weapon and grip the victim’s head, he subsequently placed the knife on Ngujo’s neck and beheaded him.

The minor who was walking a few meters behind them said that he noticed of the commotion and amid the darkness, he saw the victim sprawled on the ground. Immediately after that, Subcay allegedly pointed the weapon at him and demanded him not to go away.

Afraid that he might be killed too, the minor cooperated with Subcay and the two agreed to hide at a hilly part of the said barangay. After which, the minor persuaded Subcay to surrender, to which the latter had heeded.

Witness Randy Sandoval, 37, in his affidavit, said that around 1:20 a.m. of Sunday, he was walking along the uphill portion of the said sitio on his way home from the disco when he heard of a commotion in a secluded part.

Sandoval said he crept towards where the noise was; then saw the minor and Subcay, whom he only knew by face, having a wrestle with another person. Allegedly afraid of what he had seen, he then ran straight home and decided to sleep.

He said he was only able to identify the victim when the wife of the latter, Minda Ngujo, woke him up the following morning and informed him that the victim was found dead. He then told Minda what he saw earlier.

He went to the Punta Princesa Police Station where the suspects surrendered and identified the minor and the other person who he later identified as Subcay as the very same persons he saw attacked Ngujo.

Alfredo Ngujo, 52, father of the victim, said that he has already forgiven the suspects but he wants justice for his son.

Insp. Vicente Velasquez, chief of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, said that he believes the “heinous crime” committed by the suspects has another deeper motive, considering that Subcay, a native of Pagadian City, resides at the place for just over a month.

Velasquez said they still have to evaluate the evidences they have, including the allegations of the suspects and the witness.

He said that the two suspects, who were drunk during the incident, will also be subjected to a drug test. – Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)