Slain doc's kin claims killers were hired

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — The family of a prominent physician here, who was brutally slain last May 10, believed that someone hired the assailants to kill him.

Two male teenagers, aged 16 and 18, recorded their act of killing Dr. Andres Gumban Jr., 63, a known pulmonologist in this city, at his residence. They were immediately arrested by Gumban’s neighbors.

Eddie Gumban, nephew of the victim, appealed to the two suspects, Fof Pascual, 18, of Sagay City, and a 16-year-old of Cadiz City, to reveal who ordered them to kill the doctor.

The doctor’s remains were laid to rest Sunday at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Bacolod, attended by hundreds of people, and with his family, friends and co-workers calling for speedy justice for him.

Eddie said they are deeply hurt by the brutal killing of his uncle who was slashed in the throat, stabbed 34 times and cut with an X mark on his face.

Eddie said if the doctor was not killed, he could have helped more poor people in Negros. “We still cannot believe that this would happen to him as he still had a lot of dreams for his nephews and nieces,” he added.

Murder charges were filed against Pascual before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court, while the 16-year-old, who is now in custody of the Social Development Center, is expected to be facing the same charges, police said.   - THE FREEMAN