BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – The two suspects in the killing of a retired seafarer in Barangay Pagdugue, Dumangas, Iloilo are now in police custody.
However, suspect Jesus Dipus Jr., 63, claimed sole responsibility for the death of his second cousin and brother-in-law, Cezar Dipus Jr.
Jesus denied his son Jesus Phillip Dipus was involved in the crime. But he took his son with him when he fled for fear that the victim’s family might get back at his son, he told the police.
“Nagsakay sila bus pakadto city, later on nagbalik sila going norte sa Ajuy patabok sakay sang RoRo (roll-on roll-off) asta nakalab-ot sa balay sang utod nila sa Bacolod City,” said Police Chief Master Sergeant Kim John Banzon, chief investigator of the Dumangas Municipal Police Station.
Before the incident, Jesus Philip and the victim allegedly had an argument about the use of the water pump.
“Nagbais si Jesus Philip kag ang biktima regarding sa pag gamit sang poso, asta sang nabatian ni tatay Jesus nga nag sige pa gid wakal ang biktima. Nagpalangdulom iya nga panulok kag na-trigger siya nga himuon ang krimen,” Banzon added.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, Jesus Jr. turned himself in to the Bacolod City Police Station 4.
Later on the same day, around 9 p.m., the younger Jesus Phillip also surrendered.
“Mga 9 p.m. didto mismo sa BCPO (Bacolod City Police Office) nag-surrender man si Jesus Philip kag gin turn-over sa amon. Bangud voluntary ang pag-surrender, pag abot diri ang ila status is for protective custody,” Banzon said.
Past 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, the 47-year-old victim was found with a gunshot wound to the neck in his house.
“Murder ang kaso…gina-verify pa namon kun registered firearm holder ang aton mga suspects pero kun indi, murder with the use of an unlicensed firearm. Pwede namon mangin principal nga suspect si Jesus Dipus Jr., pwede nga mangin accessory [to the crime] ang bata,” Banzon added./PN
