Crime of passion, suicide angle bolstered

The slug that was extracted from the body of a widow came from the firearm that was found in the lap of a barangay captain who was suspected to have shot the woman before he committed suicide.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., chief of the Cebu City police, said the results of the tests bolstered the earlier theory that Mabini barangay captain Rey Oybenes shot Rahoma “Ram-Ram” Luague before shooting himself.

Natu-el said the case is already “99 percent close” but an investigation will still be made to determine the location where the woman was shot.

Based on the ballistic examination, the slug taken from Luague’s body came from the Norinco .45 caliber pistol that was found on the lap of Oybenes who was found dead inside a government-issued Toyota Hi-lux in baangay Talamban, Cebu City last Thursday.

Both Luague and Oybenes bore gunshot wounds in the chest.

The woman’s body was recovered at the foot of a cliff in barangay Cansamuroy, Balamban, southeastern Cebu several hours before Obeynes was found dead.

Police had theorized that Obeynes shot the woman first before he killed himself.

Police said the woman and the village official had a relationship that turned sour when Luague tried to break up with Oybenes.

“The same firearm was used in the shooting of Luague and Oybenes,” said Dr. Nestor Satur of the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Satur said Oybenes tested positive for gunpowder burns indicating that he had fired a gun when he was found dead.

The woman tested negative for gunpowder burn, Satur said.

Ballistic examination also revealed that the empty shell found inside the grey Toyota Hi-lux came from the gun found in the village official’s lap.

Satur said the slug was extracted from the woman’s spinal column.

Satur said Luague had been dead for more than 12 hours before her body was recovered.

Satur said Oybenes would not have survived even if he was brought to the hospital.

Oybenes was not immediately brought to the hospital since the doors of the vehicle where he was found bloodied were  locked.

One of the doors was only opened when a relative smashed the glass window against the advice of the police.

“Sa kadaku nga lungag na hapit mo occupy sa left ventricle, pwerteng dakua nga lungaga. Walay chance na mabuhi if dalhon sa hospital (The entry point of the wound was big. There was no chance that he would survive even if he was brought to the hospital,” he said.

Natu-el said investigators had asked permission from Oybenes’ wife if they could check the apartment reportedly rented by the barangay captain.

“So far, the wife is not interested,” Natu-el said.

Natu-el said Oybenes’ relatives could seek help from other agency to clear everything.

“Even the family and the wife are in doubt. It would be best for them to refer the case to another agency. I believe the same result will come out,” Natu-el said.

“If new evidence will be found in the future, the case can be revived, but based on our investigation, the village chief killed Luague and then committed suicide afterwards” Natu-el added.