Murder raps filed vs minor suspect

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Murder charges were filed against the 16-year-old suspect in the brutal killing of a prominent physician here, which was videotaped by him and his 18-year-old companion.

City Prosecutor Amando Abanado, however, said they did not actually name the suspect in the charges, only the name “John Doe,” pending a report from the DSWD on the state of discernment of the minor who is now in custody of the agency’s Social Development Center.

Abanado said they will only include the name of the 16-year-old in the charges after the DSWD submitted the discernment report within 30 days.

The prosecutor said there was prima face evidence that the doctor was killed by the assailants as shown on the video, which runs five minutes and 18 seconds, reportedly recorded in the 16-year-old’s cellular phone.

Last week, the police have filed at the Regional Trial Court-Bacolod murder charges against the other suspect, Fof Pascual Jr., 18, who hails from Sagay City.

Pascual and the 16-year-old are prime suspects in the killing of Dr. Andres Gumban, 63, a known pulmonologist, inside the victim’s residence in Brgy. Alijis in this city last May 10.