Alleged gunman of CNU nursing student arrested

CEBU, Philippines - After four months of surveillance, police yesterday arrested the man who allegedly shot to death a student nurse in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City last June 21.

Elements of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested Francisco Bacaresas Jr., 27, at the house of the suspect’s aunt in sitio Camansi, barangay Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City around 11am.

Bacaresas is a resident of sitio Manguilamon, barangay Jaclupan in Talisay City.

Bacaresas was placed under arrest by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Olegario Sarmiento of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 for robbery with homicide.

Evening last June 21, Dennis Kristoffer Bago, 20, a graduating nursing student of the Cebu Normal University was walking along the street in Victoria Village in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City from an evening mass when three men - later identified as Bacaresas, Jessie Largo, and Jestel Antig - collared him and demanded for his money and mobile phone. When Bago refused to hand over his belongings, Bacaresas allegedly shot him several times. Bago died on the spot.

A month later, Largo and Antig were placed under arrest and pointed to Bacaresas as the gunman.

Dennis Bago, the father of the victim, and his two other sons could not help but be emotional upon hearing the news. They said the victim should be happy right now that justice is finally served.

“Kun mahimo gani, kunis-kunison nako na siya! Kulang pang ibayad ang iyang kinabuhi sa pagpatay niya sa akong anak…dili na gud to mabalik ang kinabuhi sa akong anak,” Dennis said.

In a separate interview, Bacaresas vehemently denied the allegations, saying he was at his residence attending to his child during the incident and that he was even shocked when he heard that he was tagged as the gunman.

He said that because of fear, he immediately went to Lapu-Lapu and some other places to elude arrest. He, nevertheless, admitted that he has been in jail for robbery, but insisted that he did not kill anyone.

Provincial Police Director Jesus Gaquing commended the team that worked on the case, which was headed by Talisay Police chief Henry Biñas. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)