Police consider case closed: Ex-BF charged over cop’s slay

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) has filed a murder case against Felix Pastorfide Taytayan, one of the suspects in the killing of policewoman Mae Sasing.

Taytayan is Sasing’s ex-boyfriend.

Mandaue City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas, said they consider the case closed except that they still have to look for Taytayan’s accomplice, the one who drove the motorcycle they used to follow Sasing last October 31.

The driver of the motorcycle is also facing a murder charge.

"The case is considered closed. We have an ongoing operation for the arrest of Taytayan's other companion," Alanas said.

MCPO presented Taytayan to the press yesterday.

They arrested him morning on November 3 in Barangay Kaongkod in Madridejos town in Bantayan Island.

"He was positively identified and the case of murder was already filed against him," Alanas said,

At least witnesses reportedly came forward to help the police.

Motive

Taytayan denied the allegations.

"Dili ako ma'am," he said, his eyes red and wet from tears.

Police said earlier they consider the killing as a crime of passion. They said Taytayan wanted to get back with Sasing but the policewoman reportedly refused, which may have prompted the suspect to kill her.

"Nagkaroon ng galit. Kasi gusto nyang makipagbalikan pero hindi  na pwede," Alanas said.

Sasing and Taytayan were in a relationship in college when they both took up criminology. Sasing reportedly broke up with Taytayan in 2007, the year before they graduated, but the reason behind the breakup was not clear.

Sasing eventually passed the criminology board exam but Taytayan did not make it.

He eventually became a chief intelligence officer in one of the shopping malls here.

"Hindi matanggap ng suspect na hindi sila nagkatuluyan. Siya ay sobrang in love sa babae," Alanas said.

A day before the killing, a resident of Barangay Jugan in Consolacion town reportedly saw Sasing and Taytayan talking there.

Sasing lived in Consolacion and was on her way home when the assailants, also riding a motorcycle, shot her multiple times as she was traversing Barangay Basak in Mandaue City.

Police said earlier video footage from four surveillance cameras showed the suspects followed Sasing from Lapu-Lapu City to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, past the Pacific Mall, and eventually to Barangay Basak where they killed her.

Sasing suffered multiple gunshot wounds. She did not make it to the hospital alive.

The motorcycle and gun used by the suspects remain missing.

Commendation

Yesterday, Mandaue Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing lauded MCPO's effort in arresting the suspect.

"I congratulate the MCPO for swiftly bringing the killer to justice. As I said, I take crime committed in this city personally and all the more so when it is committed against the very people tasked to keep the peace," Quisumbing said.

The mayor said earlier that a monetary reward awaits those who can inform the police about the suspects’ whereabouts but did not reveal the amount. (FREEMAN)