Suspect in Bacolod doc’s slay linked to woman’s murder

Bacolod City — One of the two suspects in the killing of a prominent doctor in Bacolod City last Thursday was also a suspect in another killing in 2010.

Fof Pascual Jr., 18, of Barangay (village) Tadlong, Sagay City, was a suspect in the killing of a pregnant woman in Sagay City, according to Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod police director.

Pascual and a 16-year-old from Cadiz City have been tagged as the suspects in the killing of Dr. Andres Gumban at around 10:45 p.m. last Thursday.

The 63-year-old Gumban, a wealthy pulmonologist, sustained multiple stab wounds on the neck, chest and stomach, and died inside the bathroom of his house at the Regent Pearl Subdivision in barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, de la Paz said.

The two suspects were apprehended by Jonathan Maniego, Gumban’s neighbor and a civilian agent of the Police Regional Office-6 Intelligence Unit.

Maniego made the apprehension after he heard a commotion from the doctor’s house. Upon checking on the house, he saw bloodstains near the bathroom, so he kicked in the door and ordered the suspects to lie on the floor.

Several minutes later, a neighbor identified only as Ivan arrived and helped contact the police.

Pascual denied any participation in the killing, saying he was in the living room when the minor was stabbing the doctor.

On the other hand, the 16-year-old suspect claimed Gumban, who had a bladed weapon, entered the bathroom while he was taking a bath and made sexual advances on him. He added that he fought back, wrested the bladed weapon from the doctor and stabbed the latter repeatedly.

The 16-year-old said he came to know Gumban on Facebook in March this year and met him last week.

However, Jordan Reyes, manager of one of Gumban’s buildings, disputed the claim of the minor, adding that the doctor was a good man who did not like trouble.

The suspect’s reason for stabbing Gumban was very unbelievable because it was not in the character of the doctor to forcefully make sexual advances, Reyes pointed out.

De la Paz, however, said that they were also looking into the robbery angle as the doctor was wealthy.

Pascual and the 16-year-old were both considered suspects in the stabbing, he added.

The police will file robbery with homicide charges against the suspects within the week, de la Paz said.

The death of Gumban, who owned several buildings and businesses in Bacolod City, came as a shock to the Bacolod medical community and his numerous patients.  INQUIRER