Crimes of the year

CEBU, Philippines – There is no denying that crimes make the headlines. Crimes happen all the time, but every once in a while something happens that is so dastardly, unusual, or prominent that people will be talking about them for some time to come.

The following were some of the biggest crime stories to happen last year.

Chop-Chop Case Closed

In March, an eight-year-old case was closed after the court found 36-year-old Richard Gudelasao guilty of double murder for killing Ma. Eva Mae Peligro and Gwendolyn Balasta before chopping up their bodies in 2008 in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.

The court judge sentenced Gudelasao with reclusion perpetua for each count of murder.

Prior to the killing, Peligro told Gudelasao to vacate the house because it will be sold by her fiancé, Gudelasao's brother Felix, who was in the US at the time.

Girl Raped

Six days later, a Grade 8 student was killed and believed to have been raped in Barangay Bulasa, Argao.

In a hot pursuit operation, police arrested three men who allegedly killed the 15-year-old girl. The three were still high on illegal drugs when caught and had scratches on their faces, which were possibly from the victim who tried to fight before she was overpowered.

Autopsy results later showed the girl was not raped. However, one of the suspects hit her head with a rock several times, which caused the girl's death.

It was also found out that the three suspects were relatives of the victim.

Mall Robbery

On April 16, Gaisano Super Metro in Valladolid, Carcar City was robbed by seven armed men who pretended to be customers. They shot and injured two of the mall's guards and took with them pieces of jewelry from one of the shops inside.

The city's police chief, Superintendent Brendo Nacario, was relieved from his post following the robbery.

American Found Dead In Burned Car

Personal grudge was eyed as the motive behind the killing of retired US Navy serviceman Timothy Wilson, 60, of Pinamungajan town, who was found dead inside a burned car in Barangay Busay, Cebu City, last March.

Senior Inspector Elisandro Quijano, chief of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, said the victim's wife Jocelyn Wilson claimed the charred body as that of her husband who was last seen with Australian national Craeg Keith Ratcliff, 42, a resident of Looc, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

The Australian national and his wife, Maria Aisa Baldomar-Ratcliff, have been charged for murder in the American's death. Both are still at large.

Poll violence?

On May 5, four days before the national elections, the bodyguard of Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante was killed by unidentified assailants in the mountain barangay of Mag-antoy.

Rene of Cangmaong, 50, a former New People's Army member, was reportedly going to Barangay Gaang to deliver a letter to a local leader about a political gathering when he was ambushed. Other reports stated he was going to Barangay Kabangkalan to attend a fiesta.

Tuburan was considered as a potential election hotspot during the elections.

Pastor Shot Dead

Last June, pastor and anti-drug crusader Crisostomo Maternal Jr. was shot dead by two men in Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City.

He was driving a motorcycle when the assailants, who were also on a motorcycle, shot him, hitting his left temple.

Just recently, suspects Oliver Devilleres, Glandyl Reyes, Ramil Sibunghanoy, and Marjun Sibunghanoy were charged in court over Maternal's death. Their alleged accomplices Gary Daclan and Benjie dela Cerna were earlier charged for the same offense.

Maternal actively campaigned against illegal drugs and allegedly received death threats a day before he was killed.

Drug Mule Arrested

On July 20, an alleged drug mule was caught in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport when she tried to smuggle in 4.5 kilos of suspected shabu worth P6 million.

Zhou Liming, 27, a nurse, was caught carrying 11 packs of suspected shabu.

She has reportedly been in Cebu twice prior to her arrest, possibly for drug-related transactions.

Zhou had claimed having no idea about the illegal drugs found inside her suitcase, saying she was only ordered by her cousin to meet two Filipinos.

Traffic Chief Shot

Barely a month later, Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management Systems chief Frank Brazil was shot outside his office on August 6. He survived being shot twice in the back.

The shooting was reportedly connected to Brazil's campaign against colorum vehicles.

The CTMS has started working with the Land Transportation Office for its city-wide campaign against colorum vehicles, wherein several tricycles and motorcycles have been confiscated.

Department Store Mauling

The main suspect in the death of Mario Alfie Ducayag, who was mauled in a downtown department store after he was accused of stealing, was arrested on October 4.

Mauricio Doblados, Jr. was accused as one of those who mauled Ducayag to death after the latter allegedly shoplifted a pair of Sandugo sandals from the store.

Aside from Doblados, another accused, Jeffrey Aquino, was earlier arrested in May 2014. Doblados was former head of the mall's security while Aquino used to operate the mall's closed-circuit television camera.

Woman Clubbed Dead

Last All Souls Day, a 72-year-old woman was killed by her own son in an abandoned house in Barangay Cogon-Pardo, Cebu City, for allegedly not giving him the P32,000 he owed to a drug pusher.

Milagros Lapatha was clubbed to death by her son Jonieto Lapatha, 38.

The suspect was reportedly high on drugs when he knocked his mother out with a piece of wood before finishing her off with a rock.

Jonieto and his accomplice, 18-year-old Joshua Ortiz, were arrested and have been charged with murder.

Taiwanese Nationals Arrested

On November 22, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-7 arrested at least 24 Taiwanese nationals in their rented house in Buena Hills, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, for reportedly operating an extortion ring victimizing their fellow countrymen.

Operatives said that the modus operandi of the suspects was to call retired officials in Taiwan and tell them they still have pending cases, which they offer to settle in exchange for money.

The suspects were placed under one-month surveillance prior to the operation after the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office approached NBI-7 for assistance. — Iris Mariani B. Algabre, Mae Clydyl L. Avila, and USJ-R Interns Frances Denise Lagdameo and Sheilla Mae Cañete/NSA (FREEMAN)