CEBU CITY – Murder charges have been filed against a man for a gruesome crime that he allegedly committed in Lapu-Lapu City five years ago.
The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI 7) said Markjun Ponce is the principal suspect in the killing of his neighbor Richard Caravana Jr., 21, last January 1, 2017.
The NBI 7 said Caravana was stabbed several times in the chest and his head was smashed with a rock.
After allegedly killing his neighbor, the suspect buried the victim's body in a secluded area in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu.
NBi-7 were able to unearth the victim's remains through a tip of an informant.
A complaint for murder was filed against Ponce on November 9, 2021.
The NBI 7 said although there were several persons who saw the crime, no one came forward to testify against the suspect for fear of retaliation.
The suspect allegedly threatened that anyone who would testify against him would experience the fate suffered the victim.
The suspect had two cohorts in the crime but they remain at large, the NBI 7 said.
The NBI 7 said that fearing for their safety, some witnesses even fled to northern Luzon.
The suspect was also accused of another murder in the barangay, where he is a leader of a local gang.
The NBI 7 scored a major breakthrough in the investigation when some witnesses finally agreed to testify against the suspect.
NBI 7 agents had to fly to northern Luzon to pick up the witnesses.
The suspect is currently detained at the Mandaue City Jail.