Murder raps vs. Talisay scavenger

CEBU, Philippines -  A complaint for murder was filed yesterday against the suspect in the brutal killing of a man in Talisay City. The victim’s body was found floating in Sitio Kalinaw- San Rafael, Barangay Tanke four days ago.

 The suspect, Erlindo Pelayo, 40, was arrested the other day at a dumpsite in sitio White Road, Inayawan, Cebu City.

 Pelayo’s common-law wife, Amy Deberpe, 41, revealed earlier that Pelayo, armed with a bolo, ran after a stranger 1am last Monday when he saw him trying to catch fish at one of the fish traps near the suspect’s house. The stranger was believed to be the man killed. 

 Apart from scavenging recyclable scraps, the couple had kept fish traps near their house to support their needs.

 Deberpe revealed the suspect allegedly admitted to her that he was forced to kill the stranger by hacking him, as the latter refused to stay away from the fish trap and even allegedly destroyed the bamboo fencing.

 Based on Deberbe’s account, Pelayo allegedly told her he left the body of the victim inside the fish trap, which was subsequently washed away hours later by big waves. A fisherman later discovered the victim’s body at a nearby river. The victim’s right arm had been severed, his neck slashed, and his head almost falling off the neck. His ears were also cut off and his head and right leg sustained hack wounds.

 The victim’s left arm was tattooed with the acronym “PAL.”

 As this developed, a dismembered right arm of a man was found 10am yesterday at the shoreline of sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tanke in Talisay City.

 PO3 Mikie Espina of the Talisay City police said the arm could be that of the dead man who was found four days ago.

 Espina said the identity of the dead man remains unknown, but reports had it that he could be a resident of St. Jude Acres, barangay Bulacao, Cebu City. However, no one had claimed his body from the St. Francis Funeral Homes in Talisay City. - Liv G. Campo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)