CEBU, Philippines — The two charred bodies that were found in a vacant lot in Barangay Putat in Tuburan town were identified by their relatives yesterday.
Police Lt/Colonel Ismael Gauna, chief of Tuburan Police Station, identified the victims as Nicko Baricar of Barangay Mambaling and John Paul Galon of Barangay Kalunasan, all of Cebu City.
Gauna revealed that they took DNA samples from the relatives of Baricar and Galon who came to identify them.
Carmelita Tierny, Baricar’s mother, also went to the PNP Crime Laboratory to give her swab sample for the DNA testing.
But she believes that her son is still alive and she is not convinced that one of the bodies recovered was his even if the police found a ring bearing the name of Baricar’s former partner.
The mother revealed that Baricar was arrested before for murder and frustrated murder and has spent 13 years in jail. He was only released last year.
Tierny revealed that Baricar, a member of the gang Tau Gamma Phi, was with Isidro “Botex” Nudalo Jr. before he went missing last week.
That was the last time Baricar’s relatives saw Isidro, brother of the known drug lord Tongol Nudalo.
Lawyer Vicente Fernandez II, one of Baricar’s lawyers, said that his client was acquitted of the murder charges last year.
Baricar was a mobile disco operator in Alaska, Mambaling. (FREEMAN)