Suspect in mom, daughter slay convinced by brother to surrender

Ruel Galvan Cabatingan, 36, has been detained in Eastern Samar police before he would be brought to General Trias town in Cavite to face charges for killing a mother and her 7-year-old daughter. Photo courtesy of Eastern Samar police

TACLOBAN CITY- The prime suspect in the gruesome murder of a mother and her young daughter in General Trias town, Cavite, surrendered to the police after he was convinced by his elder brother to do so.

Ruel Galvan Cabatingan, 36, turned himself in to Chief Insp. Cirilo Nicart Jr., operations chief of the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office based in Borongan about7:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Nicart told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the suspect admitted killing Ruby Gamos and her seven-year-old daughter.

“He admitted to the crime but told me that he would only speak about it before the court,” Nicart said.

The police official said the suspect had been staying with his older brother, Fernando Cabatingan Jr. in Barangay Maybacong, Borongan, since Dec. 14, three days after the bodies of Gamos and her daughter were discovered inside their house in General Trias on Dec. 11.

“His brother was not aware that he was involved in the crime. But when he learned about it (through news), he convinced him (the suspect) to surrender to us,” Nicart said.

Nicart and Fernando both belong to the Evangelical Church. “We are happy that he (Cabatingan) decided to surrender considering that this is a sensational crime,” Nicart said.

Cabatingan is now detained at the Eastern Visayas police before he is brought to Cavite./asu