A Danish national, his Filipino common-law wife and a third suspect in the shooting to death of the brother of a Negros Oriental town mayor were arrested by the police hours after the victim’s cadaver was found early Monday, February 6, in the province’s Valencia town.
Major Roger Quijano, Valencia police chief, told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that the foreign national and his live-in partner were arrested on Monday afternoon while the other suspect was nabbed yesterday morning.
They were identified as Tim Moerch, 45 years old, a Danish national temporarily residing in Valencia; his partner, Myla Ozoa Cagasan, 40 years old, of Barangay Cadawinonan; and John Edward Remollo, alias Wolverine, of Dumaguete City’s Barangay Looc.
Police investigation showed that based on witnesses’ testimonies, the victim, Don Paulo Teves, was with the three suspects at the foreign national’s rented house in the town’s Barangay West Balabag on Sunday evening, February 5, prior to the discovery of his body, Quijano said.
The witnesses further said they heard what sounded like a gunshot from inside the foreigner’s house.
“It was not immediately known who pulled the trigger as the three suspects had conflicting versions of the incident. The victim and the suspects are known to each other and sometimes hang out together,” Quijano said.
Teves, 42 years old, is the younger brother of Valencia Mayor Edgar Teves, Jr. and the son of the former Mayor Edgar Teves, Sr. of the same town.
His body was found wrapped in a blanket and plastic in a dumpster alongside the road in Purok 3 in the town’s Barangay Calayugan.
Quijano said a single gunshot wound from behind his left ear had caused his instant death.
Scene of the Crime Operation personnel said a 5.56mm bullet pierced through Teves’ head.
Police dug up a homemade 5.56mm revolver from the Danish national’s rented house following the Filipino woman’s revelation, Quijano said.
A personal grudge is being eyed as the motive in Teves’ killing.
Investigators noted a previous conflict between the victim and the Dane which was recorded in a police blotter, he added. (PNA)