CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Police arrested on Monday, October 16, two pastors tagged in the killing of Mr. Cagayan de Oro 2023 candidate Adriane Rovic Fornillos in this city on May 9, 2023.
FORNILLOS (FB)
The suspects, one of them identified as Pastor Dimver Andales, were arrested in their church in Barangay Lapasan here through warrants of arrest for murder issued by Judge Marites Filomena Rana Bernales of the Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court Branch 39 with no bail recommended.
Suspects did not resist arrest by lawmen here.
The 23-year-old Fornillos was shot in the back of the head by an unidentified suspect on 13th St., Barangay Nazareth. The victim, a resident of Barangay Lapasan here, was in Barangay Nazareth to visit his trainer in preparation for the pageant.
He was pronounced dead by a doctor at around 12:30 a.m. on May 10 due to severe brain injury from a bullet wound.
Cagayan de Oro Nazareth police station chief Police Capt. Bayron John Ratunil confirmed on Monday that there were two other unidentified individuals possibly involved in the killing aside from the two arrested suspects.
Andales’ name emerged on social media months after the killing, accusing him of having an affair with Fornillos' girlfriend and orchestrating his killing.
The suspect denied the allegations. Andales said he knew the victim’s girlfriend because of common friends and he also knew Fornillos as a resident of Barangay Lapasan where he also lives.
Andales’ camp gathered some online posts as they plan to file formal complaints against netizens who shared libelous posts and ruined his name.
POLICE transport Pastor Dimver Andales (wearing a police vest) for a medical examination along with the other suspect before them to the court on Monday, October 16. (Strong Radio Facebook video screengrab)
In an interview with iFM Cagayan de Oro in August, Andales said he already prepared himself after he received unverified information from unknown sources that he was one of the suspects even though no formal complaint has been filed.
“I was told (by my lawyer) that we have to wait if there’s a complaint before we can respond,” Andales said, stressing that he doesn’t want to ruin his name as his son is running for councilor in Barangay Lapasan in the barangay elections on October 30.
Police have yet to disclose the participation of the other suspect.
Fornillos' girlfriend who became the center of attention after the incident because of her heartwarming posts to her boyfriend was also not exempted from criticism after allegations thrown at her online.
She has yet to issue a statement about these allegations.
Rhobert Maestre, one of Andales’ legal counsels, said that his client neither hides nor travels and they are willing to face the complaint.
He urged the public to give respect to the court that will hear the case. “It’s only the opinion of the court that matters, no one else. No other opinion will matter for that matter,” he said.
Suspects were processed at the Agora Police Station and taken to the Cagayan de Oro City Jail in Barangay Lumbia.
On July 25, Fornillos graduated at Liceo de Cagayan de University with a degree in civil engineering. His parents and sister attended the ceremony.