Amulet fails to save Cebu’s 4th most wanted

CEBU, Philippines — The suspect in the killing of a former barangay councilman of Maharuhay in Medellin town, northern Cebu was finally arrested Wednesday, more than four years after he committed the crime.

The 57-year-old Edgar Tumara, who claimed to have an anting-anting (amulet), was arrested in Placer, Masbate after the operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) received a report about his presence in Barangay San Marcos.

Tumara, a former tanod, has two pending warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder. In Cebu province, he is the fourth most wanted personality, and second in Medellin.

Police seized several amulets and incantation spells written in cloths and papers.

Police Regional Office (PRO) – 7 Director Jose Mario Espino said Tumara allegedly used anting-anting and magic spells so he will not be located by law enforcers, as well as to hypnotize women.

“He is bragging na hindi daw siya tatablan ng bala, makapag-hypnotized siya ng babae saka feeling niya invisible siya kapag nakasuot niyan (pointing at the cloth with written incantations),” he said.

In the end, not even his amulets could save him from evading the law.

“Walang invisible sa batas,” Espino said.

In October 2013, Eluminado Ybañez was attending a barangay assembly at a basketball court when Tumara armed with a .45 caliber pistol, arrived and shot him several times. Ybañez was killed on the spot.

Tumara, a native of Leyte, fled after the incident.

They were neighbors who reportedly held grudges against each other.

Ybañez accused Tumara of attempting to kill him and filed a frustrated murder case in September 2012 that resulted in the former tanod’s arrest.

Tumara claimed it was done in self-defense.

The victim’s wife, Maharuhay Barangay Councilwoman Betty Ybeñez, thanked PRO-7 for finally arresting Tumara.

“Nagpapasalamat kami og dako sa PNP nga sa katapusan nahatagan na og hustisya ang pagkamatay sa akong bana,” she said.

She claimed Tumara is not only a “murderer” but also a notorious theft in their barangay.

She said the suspect has been using his anting-anting even before he murdered her husband.

“Mangahadlok man ang mga tawo kay baharan man niya nga balikon og pamatyon,” she said.

In a separate interview, Tumara belied using his anting-anting and incantations to avoid arrest. He said he has been using them to cure sick people.

Espino said Tumara’s arrest will solve the town’s cases.

 “Sa mga kababayan natin, sana magtiwala sila sa mga pulis. We are exerting efforts para mahuli ang mga nagkakasala. Sumusunod tayo sa mandate which is to go after sa mga most wanted personalities,” said Espino.

 Tumara is now temporarily detained at the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) office for proper disposition. (FREEMAN)