Suspect in killing of Zamboanga del Sur vendor yields

PAGADIAN CITY–One of the suspects in Tuesday’s killing of a lechon vendor had owned up to the crime, police authorities in Ramon Magsaysay town in Zamboanga del Sur province said Friday.

Bryan Gumalin that admitted he was among a four-man team that shot to death 45-year-old Danilo Deceirdo Tugahan in the said town, according to Senior Police Officer Michael Hontiveros, the case investigator.

Gumalin, and another suspect – Junejay Camasura – were arrested by the Ramon Magsaysay police on Wednesday after a witness identified the motorcycle they used in killing Tugahan, according to Hontiveros.

He said Gumalin had eventually admitted to be among the gunmen and added they were paid P20,000 to kill Tugahan.

Hontiveros said Gumalin also identified the person who had commissioned them to kill the victim but the police were withholding his identity, pending his arrest.

He said the suspected gunman had also confessed that the person who have commissioned them harbored a grudge against Tugahan.

Tugahan was driving his Honda Wave motorcycle, with his son as back rider, when shot dead.

Hontiveros said a murder case and other charges were being prepared against Gumalin, Camasura and the other suspects who remained at large, in the killing of the lechon vendor.