Suspect in beheading of dumpsite scavenger collared in Bohol town

CEBU, Philippines - The alleged psychopath who was suspected of decapitating an Inayawan dumpsite scavenger last week was arrested in Bohol the other day.

Edgardo Abangan, of legal age, was arrested in sitio Pitogo in the municipality of Carlos P. Garcia through the joint operation of police in the area and in Cebu City after days of hiding.

Abangan, suspected of being afflicted with psychosis and an ex-convict, was positively identified as the one who beheaded 49-year-old Gaudioso dela Cruz, a resident of sitio Tumoy, barangay Inayawan.

Dela Cruz was reported by his family as missing since January 21. His decomposing body, found placed inside a sack, also bore multiple stab wounds.

Authorities from the Pardo Police Station conducted a follow-up operation and went to the house of the suspect in Inayawan last Saturday to arrest him but yielded negative. They found out later that the suspect left Cebu bound for Bohol.

They then called up the police in Bohol. SPO4 Wilfredo Palata, officer-in-charge of the Carlos P. Garcia Police Station and his men were able to arrest the suspect in sitio Pitogo.

Earlier, it was reported that at around 11 p.m. of January 21, the victim was accompanied by the suspect, who eked out a living also as a scavenger, to an unknown destination after they had a drinking spree with two other neighbors which started at about 9 p.m.

A radio report had it that the suspect, allegedly a toughie in the place, got mad at dela Cruz after the latter refused to give him a portion of his income in scavenging.

Police said that the suspect was just released from the Muntinlupa City Jail (New Bilibid Prison) after serving a four-year imprisonment term for a murder case. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)