Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Murder suspect in Bago yields, denies killing couple By Nicolas C. Delfin
AFTER almost two months in hiding, double-murder suspect Dennis Buga-ay finally surrendered Tuesday morning.
Buga-ay, 37, was identified as suspect in killing of his neighbors, couple Antonio and Daisy Jalandoni in Purok Paglaum, Barangay Antipuluhan, Bago City dawn of February 27.
He surrendered to La Carlota City Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer who later endorsed him to police authorities.
Buga-ay, though, denied having any involvement in the crime, saying that he was busy harvesting "Indian mangoes" during that time.
But Bago City Police Chief Alex Belonio said they have gathered enough evidences against Buga-ay.
Buga-ay was charged with double murder case before the Regional Trial Court in Bago City.
"He is free to air his allegations and claims soon as the hearing for the case starts," Belonio added.
Belonio said Buga-ay's sudden disappearance after the incident led probers to place him under investigation.
During investigation, probers recovered a "tuwang-tuwangan" (bamboo bar use as leveler for pails in gathering water) and a spade with blood stains were later discovered in his possession.
"These mediums were probably used by Buga-ay to kill the Jalandoni couple," Belonio said.
Police investigation showed that the couple had been persistently urging Buga-ay to pay his debt of P4,700 which later resulted to confrontations and misunderstanding between both parties.
Prior to the incident, Buga-ay almost hit Antonio with a "tuwang-tuwangan" after a verbal tussle while they were drawing water from a nearby well also in Purok Paglaum early morning of February 26, police report said.
A day after, the daughter of the Jalandoni couple who came for a visit in their house was shocked to discover her father, Antonio, lying dead outside their house.
While her mother, Daisy, who succumbed to a slash wound in the neck and contusions in the forehead, was found dead in a room inside their house, police report added.
Meanwhile, Buga-ay is now detained at the Bago City Police Office.
