Police prepare murder charge vs. student who killed classmate

CEBU, Philippines - Carcar town police are now preparing the murder charge against the 15-year-old fourth year high school student of Can-asujan National High School who allegedly struck dead his classmate over a disagreement on a P10 class contribution.

SPO1 Norman Lapiña said the case is now being handled by PO2 Rowena Santillan who would soon be filing the murder complaint against the minor suspect at the office of fiscal Richard Abangan.

At present, Lapiña said the boy is still under the police custody as he signed a waiver of detention while he waits for his lawyer but he would be later turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The suspect was detained after he bludgeoned his classmate, John Carlo Lumba, 18, who suffered a fatal injury in the head that allegedly caused his untimely death.

An investigation conducted by SPO1 Socrates Familgan revealed that around 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, the victim went around collecting P10 from the members of their dance group so they can have enough money to burn a CD with dance music for their practices.

Lumba allegedly insulted the suspect when the latter refused to pay that resulted to an argument that later seemed to have been settled without any trouble.

But around 9:45 a.m., while the victim was napping inside their classroom, the minor allegedly approached and clubbed him with a piece of wood.

Their classmates saw the victim unconscious and bleeding and was brought to Carcar District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctor.

Accompanied by his mother, the 15-year-old suspect surrendered to the Carcar police around 2 p.m. that same day.

Jessica Endangan, the teacher-in-charge of the victim and suspect said that she was not around when the incident happened because it was recess time. She added she was shocked when her other students informed her about it.

According to Endangan, she could not remember of any problem between Lumba and the suspect and in fact, they were good friends.

However, PO1 Alex Buanghog said it is possible that victim and suspect already had a history of trouble and the latest incident was just another story. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)