Councilman arrested for murder

CEBU, Philippines — A barangay councilman of Babag, Cebu City was arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 over the killing of his cousin Thursday dawn.

Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, CIDG-7 regional chief, said they were able to arrest Babag councilman Reynante Bacarisas, 47, after he was tagged as suspect behind the killing of his cousin, Jorge Ibona.

Ibona’s wife, Jenny Fe, who witnessed the incident, positively identified Bacarisas as the suspect.

“Actually yung mismo ang wife mismo ng biktima, pumunta dito kasi positively identified nya yung suspect, na kung saan pinatay ang kanyang husband,” said Dalogdog.

Dalogdog said that the incident stemmed from a conflict back in 2018 when Ibones’ wife was working under the midwife of the barangay.

“Nagkaroon sila ng konting alitan. Inutosan yata ang asawa (Jenny Fe), tapos hindi nya na comply yung utos ni kagawad, ito namang asawa, nag-sumbong sa husband, yung husband naman nya, kinausap si Barangay kagawad,” said Dalogdog.

The conflict further escalated in the same year when Bacarisas allegedly shot Jorge, resulting in the filing of frustrated murder case against him.

Last September 22, when the suspect knew that the court had set to resolve the case, Bacarisas reportedly went to the residence of the Ibona couple to try to settle the case amicably.

“At ito namang dalawa, ang mag-asawa, decided sila na ayaw na nilang iurong ang kaso kay itong suspect, because of desperation dahil alam nya na wala na rin syang pag-asang makipag-areglo..at binaril itong biktima,” said Bacarisas.

Following the incident, the CIDG-7 then conducted an operation and arrested Bacarisas.

In an interview with the media, Bacarisas denied the accusations, saying he couldn’t do such thing.

“Wa ko kahibaw ana..mao na ilang gipasangil nako...katong panahona naa kog Ayala, wala gyud ko didto...mao na akong dakong pangutana nila nganong naabot sa punto nga (gipasanginlan ko), unsa kaha ilang pagdumot nako,” said Bacarisas.

Jenny Fe said she saw Bacarisas shoot his husband during the incident.

“Pagbangon nako mao akong nakita, si Konsehal Bacarisas...ni buto, dayon wala ko mosinggit kay safety sa akong mga anak, nilakaw sya gadala og armas,” said Jenny Fe.

She added that the pending case they had filed against the councilor might have triggered the suspect to kill his husband. —LPM (FREEMAN)