Suspect admits killing Cebuano trader

CEBU — One of the three suspects in the murder of a 28-year-old businesswoman who was found dead inside her rented apartment in Nasipit, Taamban town last Sept. 4, has confessed to the crime.

Police arrested the three suspects last Saturday. They were identified as Fabian Mabalato, 32; Julio Cartociano, 47; and Luz Sato, the alleged mastermind.

Still at large is a fourth suspect identified only as a certain Allan.

Only Mabalato was interviewed by the reporters the other day, as the police were interrogating the two others.

Mabalato admitted to the crime, saying that he and Allan stabbed businesswoman Omega Barbas inside her room, upon the orders of Cartociano. Sato allegedly wanted the victim dead because she reportedly owed her money.

In an earlier interview, Barbas’ elder sister, Amy Barbon, told reporters than Sato was the biggest client of Barbas’ purchase order cards.

Based on a list of debts gathered by homicide investigators, Sato also reportedly owed Barbas a lot of money.

Reports said Barbas was supposed to meet with Sato the day she was killed since Sato was among the last few callers to Barbas’ cellphone.

Mabalato said Cartociano allegedly offered to pay him and Allan P150,000 to kill Barbas.

He recalled that about 8 a.m. of Sept. 4, Allan, an acquaintance, arrived at his house in Sitio Baka, Banilad, and invited him to a birthday party.

But Allan allegedly brought him instead to Cartociano who was waiting for them near the University of San Carlos’ Talamban campus.

Mabalato said Cartociano allegedly asked them to kill Barbas and promised to give them P150,000 after the crime was done. The three of them, he said, then proceeded to Barbas’ house in Talamban.

Mabalato said he and Allan pretended to deliver a package. When the door opened, Allan went in and held Barbas while Mabalato stabbed her in the left side of the neck.

They then hurriedly left and rode a jeepney for Maguikay where the payoff was made, Mabalato said.

The three suspects are detained separately: Mabalato at the city police headquarters, Sato at the Fuente police station, and Cartociano at the Mabolo police detention cell. — Freeman News Service