On death of police chief Nuñez: Fifth suspect surrenders, denies any involvement

CEBU, Philippines - The fifth suspect in the death of Police Senior Inspector Alexander Nuñez, acting chief of Catmon Police Station, has surrendered before the Guihulngan City Police Station in Negros Oriental on Thursday after almost a month of hiding.

Police Superintendent D'Artagnan Katalbas Jr., Guihulngan chief of police, said that at around 8:30 p.m., Jaime Jayson, 22, a resident of Barangay Fuente, Carmen town appeared before their station, together with his brother-in-law and assisted by Barangay Councilor Alfredo Jacolve, to cooperate in the investigation and his alleged involvement in the killing of Nuñez.

Nuñez, 38, a resident of Lawisan, Lapu-Lapu City, was killed after he responded to a commotion invol-ving Jaime and his four brothers in Barangay Puente, Carmen town on December 24, 2016.

"Ang incident happened on December 24 and naabot siya didto pagka December 25," said Katalbas over phone interview, adding Barangay Calamba is a mountainous barangay and is nine kilometers away from the city.

Jaime had been staying with his brother-in-law, when he arrived in Barangay Calamba on December 25. Katalbas said Jaime heard that he was wanted in Cebu and because he feared for his life, he asked the assistance of Jacolve.

According to Katalbas, Jaime said he left for Guihulngan City via RoRo from Barangay Tangel, Dumanjug town.

Jayson was brought back to Cebu by a team headed by Police Superintendent Yape Jr. of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Cebu assisted by the Carmen Police Station personnel and the Regional Special Operations Task Group in Region-7.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño said maybe Jaime surrendered because of the intensified follow-up operation conducted by his men.

After he turned himself in to the authorities, Jaime has vehemently denied allegations hurled against him, putting the blame on his older brother, Ricardo.

In an interview with the media, Jaime explained that he decided to surrender in order to clear his name.

He insisted that he had no participation in the crime and that it was only his brother, Ricardo, who shot Nuñez.

He said he was engaged in a scuffle with another man who disturbed the drinking session with his brothers Ricardo, Carlo, Camilo, and Carlito inside a videoke bar when he heard gunshots. He later saw the body of Nuñez already lying lifeless on the ground.

He said prior to the incident, Jaime's other brother, Carlito, was apprehended by Nuñez after Carlito fired a gun aimed at the sky supposedly to pacify the ruckus involving Jaime.

Nuñez was reportedly on his way home to celebrate noche buena with his family when he chanced upon the commotion.

Jaime believed that Carlito showed aggression and opened fire on Nuñez which prompted Nuñez to defend himself by shooting Carlito, hitting him on the left chest which caused his death.

Ricardo reportedly went to see what had happened.

Still fighting with the unidentified man, Jaime said he heard another burst of gunfire and saw Ricardo bolting away, leaving Nuñez on the ground.

Ricardo and his other siblings, Camilo and Carlo, were later arrested in a hot pursuit operation, with Ricardo ending up dead after he allegedly grabbed the gun of a policeman while being booked at the Carmen Police Station.

Camilo also died after he allegedly tried to grab the gun of another policeman while leading the police to where Jaime was supposedly hiding.

A criminal case was already filed against Carlo before a trial court in Danao City.

Asked why it took him three weeks to surrender, Jaime said he was afraid that he would face the same fate as his slain brothers.

Police filed yesterday afternoon a murder complaint against Jaime.

He was brought to the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office for an inquest proceeding.

When asked by Prosecutor Raymund Aller for his legal moves, Jaime opted not to file a counter-affidavit and just answer the allegations before the court.

During a confrontation at the prosecution office, Jaime insisted his innocence in front of Nuñez's wife, Queen Brigitte, who responded by saying, "Usa ra'y akong masulti nimo. Bakakon kang dako."

She said Jaime's statement is contrary to what the witnesses claimed that the Jaysons ganged up on Nuñez

In an interview, Brigitte said she is hoping that Jaime will pay for the life of her husband inside the jail for a lifetime.

Nuñez was laid to rest on January 6, 2017 at Sanctuary Memorial Park in Danao City. — Mylen P. Manto, Michael Vincent H. Braga with report from Juancho R. Gallarde (FREEMAN)