Police across province hunting down 3 suspects

CEBU, Philippines - A manhunt is underway for the remaining suspects in the killing of a teacher in the southern town of Argao.

Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt Erson Digal yesterday ordered all chiefs of police across the province to help in the manhunt operation. A special team was also formed to augment the manhunt efforts.

The three were identified as Arnel Cabungcal alias “Kimpang” of Poblacion 3 Barangay Awayan, Carcar City; the alleged triggerman; Marcelo Navarez alias “Eloy” of barangay Saragoza Rosario, Aloguinsan, the alleged lookout; and Jiffy Cavan barangay Rosario, Aloguinsan town, also an alleged lookout.

Pictures of the three suspects have been disseminated to the public.

The alleged driver of the getaway vehicle, Joel Navarro Alforque, 32, a resident of barangay Valencia, Carcar City, was arrested over the weekend following a shootout. He was arrested in possession of a .357 caliber revolver with three live bullets. He claimed he was bringing the weapon for self-defense.

Alforque denied participation in the crime, but witnesses positively identified him as the driver and companion of the three other suspects.

The victim, Romeo Duran, 52, a Grade 6 teacher, was shot on the head in front of his pupils inside his classroom in Binlod Elementary School last week.

Digal said they could not divulge the motive of the killing just yet while the other suspects are still at large. He said Cabungcal is an allegedly a known gun-for-hire in Carcar City and his group would allegedly pull the trigger in exchange for even a small amount of money.  

“Modawat ni sila bisag P1,500; P2,000; P3,000,” Digal said.

He said considering that the getaway vehicle reportedly traveled at a normal speed, the suspects could have been easily accosted after the shooting if only they were police officers in the area.

The four suspects are now facing murder charges in court while Alforque is facing another charge for violating the Comelec gun ban. Navares, for his part, is facing a charge of direct assault to a person in authority after exchanging fire with policemen who tried to arrest him at his house on February 13.

Alforque told the police the three other suspects forced him to drive them to a gasoline station in Carcar after the tire of their motorcycle went flat.

“Na-flatan man na sila diha dapit sa amo-a sakay sa ilang puwa nga aura nga motor, mao hangyo sila nako nga magpahatod sila sa may petron diha sa Carcar rotunda. Giti-unan man gani ko og pusil mao nga nisugot nalang ko,” he said.

He said he did not know that the suspects would go to Argao and kill the teacher.

Alforque said that he knew the suspects because they met inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. He was imprisoned at that time for illegal drugs.

Cabungcal reportedly has a spider tattoo on his neck, which Alforque also has, but on his knee.

Yesterday, Digal invited CPDRC jail warden Efren Nemeño to his office to help verify the records of the four suspects.

Both Digal and Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez said the crime is 75 percent solved.

Meanwhile, about 30 personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be deployed to Argao to conduct stress debriefing among teachers and pupils of Binlod Elementary School.

About 300 teachers and pupils would reportedly undergo the sessions, which will be conducted for four days. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)