Double “chop-chop” murders suspects own up crime at inquest

Suspects in the twin murders of Maria Eva Mae Peligro and her helper Gwendoloyn Balasta last Thursday owned up the crime during yesterday’s inquest proceedings before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s office.

Richard Gudelosao admitted before city prosecutor Marshall Rubia that he was responsible for tying up Peligro to put an end to her constant reporting to his US-based parents of his drinking and spending.

Gudelosao said that he had already enough of Peligro reporting to his family about his shenanigans, which prompted them to cut off his allowance.

Peligro, being the fiancé of Gudelosao’s younger brother, also based in the US, had been living in the house of the Gudelosao family in Azienda Firenze, barangay Maghaway, since October last year.

Gudelosao told Rubia that he only meant to tie her up and when she would agree to a compromise, he would then release her.

He alleged that it was co-accused Joseph Roy Cellar, who allegedly strangled Peligro and punched her repeatedly following her incessant screaming.

For his part, Cellar admitted to taking in the crime in a sworn affidavit-confession filed before the city prosecutor.

In this affidavit, Cellar said that Gudelosao, after cutting the internet connection of Peligro so that she would come out from her room, told him: “Akong birahan, bak-api ko.”

He added that “using a knife, Gudelosao started cutting the lower extremities of Peligro particularly the knee part.”

He also alleged that since he was at Peligro’s head, he cut her neck using the same knife. The knife was recovered from the bag of Gudelosao’s daughter with co-accused and common-law wife, Jean Antonette Medalle.

Balasta met the same fate for being a witness to the crime.

It was at 3 a.m. of Friday when the suspects disposed of the chopped up remains stashed in 13 garbage bags.

They threw them away in various locations in Talisay City, Minglanilla, and Toledo City using Gudelosao’s taxi with plate number GXB-256.

Medalle, for her part, denied she was a part of the crime.

She told Rubia that at 9 p.m. of Thursday, she received a call from Gudelosao telling her: “mana,” (finished) and “ayaw’g pyait” (don’t say anything).

Medalle, who said she was in their house in barangay Lahug when the crime was committed, however admitted she already learned of the plan to silence Peligro.

Medalle’s statement was however refuted by Peligro’s younger sister, Grace Ybañez, who was present during the proceedings.

Ybañez said that at 6 p.m. of Thursday she called up the Gudelosao’s house to check on her sister, who sent her a text message to call her immediately at around 1 p.m. and it was Medalle who answered the phone.

The sister of the victim said that she was not able to call immediately as she was at work and they are not allowed to bring their phones.

The crime was reportedly committed at 3 p.m.

Ybañez said that she knew that her sister was not in good terms with her soon to be brother-in-law, but she did not know that it was already that bad, otherwise their family could have long taken her out of the said house.

The double murder case against the three is scheduled to be filed anytime today at the Regional Trial Court after all three suspects refused a preliminary investigation.

Awards For The Cops

Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos, director of the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) said that the investigating officers will be given recognition for a job well done.

He said that credits and commendations will be given especially to the chief of police of Minglanilla town, who, according to Roderos, was “very good in investigation.”

The awards will be based on the after-investigation reports while their promotion would depend on the deliberation.

According to Roderos, awards will be given immediately. They will convene with the Awards Board as soon as possible to determine what would be given to the officials.

The awards are expected to be bestowed on Monday during the flag ceremony.— /NLQ