Misamis Oriental town vice mayor bet tagged for doctor’s murder

Richard Gepte, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Dr. Raul Winston Andutan in Cagayan de Oro last December. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO (from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Authorities on Monday, Jan. 24, said they had narrowed down to two the possible motives for the killing of a medical doctor here last month after the alleged mastermind surrendered to the police Sunday afternoon.

Maj. Evan Viñas, city police spokesperson, said Richard Gepte, 51, an incumbent municipal councilor of Balingoan town, Misamis Oriental, was reported to have stayed at the Carmelite Monastery in Barangay Camaman-an here before sending a surrender feeler to the police.

Gepte, who is running for the town’s vice mayor in next year’s election, is allegedly behind the Dec. 2 killing of Dr. Raul Winston Andutan, medical director of the privately-owned Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital here, according to the police.

Motorcycle-riding gunmen killed Andutan in Barangay Nazareth while driving his way to Maria Reyna on Dec. 2 last year.

Before Gepte’s surrender, police arrested three suspects—identified as Marjun Cabug, Joel Nacua, and Jomar Adlao—all from Bukidnon and who were believed to have carried out the shooting.

The fourth person, Rene Turtosa, the alleged handler who planned the ambush, is still in hiding.

Viñas said they were able to get hold of a receipt from a money remittance outlet allegedly showing Gepte sending money to the alleged gunmen, which the police used as one of the pieces of evidence.

Judge Gil Bollozos of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 earlier issued an arrest warrant against the Gepte for murder, docketed as criminal case no. R-CDO-21-04166-CR, with no bail recommended.

Viñas said Gepte had stayed at the monastery since he felt safe there. He decided to surrender for his safety and so he could be given a chance to present his case in court, he added.

He said the accused’s lawyer, Silvan Sabio, reached out to the police to facilitate his client’s surrender.

Sabio, he said, directly called up Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., the police regional director, regarding Gepte’s intent to surrender.

“With the help of Attorney Silvan Sabio, [we] were able to convince Mr. Richard Gepte to surrender. His surrender can be credited to the strong police-community partnership,” Acorda posted on social media Sunday, Jan. 23.

Viñas said investigators were focusing on two probable motives for Andutan’s killing – land dispute and death of a patient.

When asked, Gepte did not confirm the accusations but instead told investigators he would answer all allegations against him in court, Viñas said.