BACOLOD CITY – Two of the three suspects in the killing of Don Paulo Teves, brother of Valencia, Negros Oriental Mayor Edgar Teves Jr., and another individual were shot dead late Wednesday night, Feb. 8, hours after they were released from detention.
The victims were identified as Tim Moerch, 45, a Danish national, and his girlfriend, Myla Cagas.
Moerch and Cagas from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental were killed minutes apart at around 11:20 p.m. in Barangay Balugo, Valencia.
Moerch's legal wife, Karen Kate Cadiente, who was riding with him on a motorcycle at that time, was also shot dead during the attack.
Corporal Rex Smith Galsing, Valencia Municipal Police Station investigator, said they face a blank wall on the identities of the perpetrators as there were no witnesses.
Galsing said that Moerch and Cagas, along with another suspect, John Edward Remollo, of San Jose town, Negros Oriental, were ordered released by the prosecutor’s office due to some technicalities in their apprehension.
Moerch and Cagas were arrested on Monday, Feb. 6, a few hours after the discovery of the body of 42-year-old Don Paulo, son of former Valencia Mayor Edgar Teves Sr.
Remollo, on the other hand, was nabbed the following day.
Don Paulo sustained a bullet wound in the head and was wrapped in a blanket and plastic in a dumpster when his body was found in Barangay Calayugan.
Police said the three suspects have been identified by a witness as the persons last seen with the victim when he was still alive.
Murder charges have been filed against the suspects and grudges were eyed as possible motive in the incident because of a reported previous misunderstanding between Don Paulo and Moerch.
It was not immediately known if Remollo was also released.
Valencia police chief Major Roger Quijano declined to be interviewed pending an ongoing investigation on the incident.
The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office have yet to release other details of the crime. (With a report from PNA)