(Photo byPNA)
COTABATO CITY – Police arrested the primary suspect in the killing of an elderly retired teacher couple in Banisilan, Cotabato, less than 72 hours after the crime, authorities said Wednesday.
Cotabato provincial police director Col. Ramel Hojilla said the suspect, identified only as alias “Meroy,” 53, was arrested at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Sitio Kib-al, Barangay Guiling, Alamada town.
The suspect is reportedly a distant relative of the victims, Edwin Galeno, 81, and Elsa Galeno, 82, both residents of Barangay Poblacion 2 in Banisilan.
Maj. Arvin John Basilio Cambang, chief of the Banisilan Municipal Police Station, led the operation with assistance from the suspect’s relatives.
Police said the suspect allegedly became angry after the couple refused his request to borrow money. Investigators also said he was reportedly involved in illegal gambling.
The victims, who owned a rubber plantation, were found by neighbors in a pool of blood inside their home at around 5 a.m. on Oct. 4. Investigators believe they had been stabbed about two hours earlier.
“Our investigation showed that the suspect’s motive was due to a personal grudge when the victims refused to lend him money he supposed to borrow,” Cambang said.
Police said the suspect did not resist arrest.
Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, director of Police Regional Office-Soccsksargen, commended the Banisilan and Cotabato police for the swift arrest.
“Your relentless hot pursuit, effective strategy, and teamwork led to swift justice and gave the bereaved families a measure of closure. Excellent work,” Manibog said.
