Brother of triggerman in teacher's slay shot

CEBU, Philippines - The younger brother of the suspect in the shooting of an elementary school teacher in Argao was killed by two motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Poblacion 3, Carcar City yesterday morning.

Initial investigation revealed that Arceli Cabungcal was piling sand in sitio Baha-Baha, Barangay Poblacion when masked men on board a motorcycle arrived around 11 am and shot him several times. The suspects then fled towards sitio Dap-dap.

Cabungcal died subsequently due to several gunshot wounds on his head and right side of his body. He was brought to the Carcar District Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.

Police said the gun used to shoot Cabungcal was a .45 caliber pistol.

Cabungcal is the younger brother of Arnel Cabungcal, the alleged gunman in the killing of school teacher Romeo Duran. The teacher was shot in front of his pupils in Binlod Elementary School in the southern town of Argao.

PO1 Gilmer Noval of the Carcar City police said Cabungcal was an ex-convict.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal said they received reports that Cabungcal had wanted to go with his brother and the other suspects in killing Duran last February 10, but reportedly failed to do so. 

“Gilipat-lipat mani nila ang biktima (Cabungcal) sa dihang ila nang pusilon si Duran mao nga pag human sige ni ug yaw-yaw nga kung makit-an niya ang iyang igsuon siya mismo mudala sa police,” Digal said.

He said it is possible that those who shot Cabungcal’s just belong to his circle and simply wanted to keep him silent. 

“Tan-aw nako murag ila rapud ning mga kauban nagbuhat ani, ila ra ning gi-pahilom ang biktima” Digal said, adding that Cabungcal was reportedly identified as a gun-for-hire who would kill a subject even for a meager P1,500.

Police earlier filed murder charges against Arnel, Marcelo Navares, and Jiffy Cavan in relation to Duran’s killing.

Alforque was identified as the driver of the motorcycle used as the get-away vehicle. He was also charged with illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban after the policemen confiscated.

Navares was also charged with direct assault for firing at policemen who tried to arrest him in Carcar City the other week. Navares evaded arrest. Cabungcal remains at large.

No mastermind or motive has been identified yet. Police investigators continued to check the angle that the killing may be due to the teacher’s unpaid debts .

In 2002, Duran owed a friend some P200,000. The teacher also took a loan to buy a motorcycle though he didn’t know how to drive or have a driver's license.

Police are looking for the motorcycle, which was not in the victim's residence in Binlod, or the person who used the vehicle to provide clues.

Duran, a Grade 6 adviser, was checking papers in the classroom while waiting for his students to be dismissed when the gunman walked in and shot him in the face. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)