LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Police on Monday, Oct. 17, filed a case against five suspects in the murder and robbery of high school principal Beverly Cabaltera in Polangui, Albay.
One of the suspects, identified as “Benie Jun,” was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Camalig, Albay.
Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Police Regional Office (PRO)-5 spokesperson, said that the suspects were identified after Benie Jun confessed to the crime after he was arrested.
She said that the suspect disclosed their plan to commit the crime and names of cohorts during the interrogation and questioning.
Calubaquib said Benie Jun decided to name his accomplices after he did not get his share of the loot.
"He narrated that he was not given any share from what they stole from the victim that prompted him to reveal the identities of the other perpetrators and their individual participation and helped in the administration of justice," Calubaquib said.
"Suspects in the crime were identified through the arrest of ‘Benie Jun,’ one of the perpetrators who was taken by the members of Polangui MPS, Camalig MPS, PIU-Albay PPO, CIDG Albay PFU, SITG Cabaltera, and 39th IB, 9th ID, Philippine Army in a buy-bust operation. In reference with the CCTV footages collected, Benie Jun was identified as the same person seen wearing jogging pants in the video and he confirmed his involvement on the commission of the crime," Calubaquib added.
She said the Special Investigating Task Force (SITG) Cabaltera filed a case of robbery with homicide before the provincial prosecutor's office in Ligao City, Albay.
Benie Jun said they took the personal belongings of the victim and escaped on board a motorcycle to Camalig.
Cabaltera, principal of the Pio Duran National High School in Pio Duran, Albay and married to a police officer, was shot and killed by the suspects in her residence in Napoville Subdivision, Barangay Napo.
"With the identification of the suspects, it is now easy for us to locate the suspects. Rest assured that justice will be given to the victim’s family in no time. We will launch operations against them under our manhunt efforts,” PNP Bicol director Brig. Gen. Rudolph Dimas said.