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Friday, March 11, 2005
Man kills self after shooting ex-girlfriend, pal
By Joy G. Romares
DAVAO CITY -- The suspect in the killing of two women, who were shot inside their rented room in Davao City Wednesday, killed himself a few hours after he allegedly committed the crime.
San Pedro Police Chief Pat Macas on Thursday said Marlo "Mayo" Balen was found hanging from a tree with the rope tied around his neck in Barangay Tayapoc, Peñaplata District in Samal Wednesday afternoon.
Macas said an investigator is already determining the exact time of Balen's death.
Balen allegedly killed his former girlfriend, Ma. Cristina Ligal, 23, of Mangagoy, Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and her friend Rowena "Faith" Roda, 23, of Cotabato City.
The victims died a few hours after the suspect allegedly shot them inside their rented room at Jamero Compound, 478 Alley, Malvar Street in Davao City at around 12:10 p.m. Wednesday.
Ligal and Roda were taking review classes in the city, in preparation for the nursing board examinations.
Police said Ligal and Roda were resting inside their room, located at the second floor of the boarding house, when the suspect barged in and without provocation shot the victims.
Ligal's board mates claimed they heard Ligal pleading with Balen several times, but a few minutes later, they heard successive gun bursts.
Witnesses said the suspect, who was clad in a red sweater, hurriedly went down the stairs and fled on foot.
A caretaker who refused to be identified said she did not see the suspect because she hurriedly dialed 911 for assistance after she heard the gunfire.
But another caretaker, who was outside the boarding house when the incident happened, claimed he saw Balen getting out of the compound.
Ligal and Roda, who both succumbed to two gunshot wounds, were brought to the Davao Doctors Hospital, just a few meters away from the crime scene.
Ligal died at around 12:45 p.m. while Roda also expired an hour after.
Macas said they still have to investigate the gun used by the suspect because responding policemen failed to recover empty shells at the crime scene.
Ligal reportedly broke up with Balen on February 27 and he was not able to accept her decision.
Ligal's father, in an interview over a local radio station, said his daughter was about to leave the country this May.
Ligal's mother had visited her on Tuesday, a day before the incident happened.
According to Ligal's board mates, they heard her telling her mother that same day she had broken up with Balen. She told her mother her former boyfriend threatened to kill her.
Shortly after the incident, the Intelligence Division of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) was able to contact the suspect's parents.
Police said the suspect's parents assured them they will surrender their son whenever they see him.
But it seemed that a few hours after the crime, Balen committed suicide.
Earlier Wednesday, Ligal's father (name not identified) visited her in Davao City and asked her to come home with him to Surigao. He said her daughter begged off, telling him she will only go home the next day.
"Pa, ugma lang hapon ko uli kay matulog pa ko sa boarding house (Pa, I want to rest in the boarding house first, I will be home by tomorrow afternoon)," Ligal's father quoted her daughter as saying.
Ligal's father claimed his daughter attended a gathering at Times Beach with her friends on the eve of her death. He said his daughter told him that Balen appeared at the gathering.
"Nag-adto daw iyang uyab sa Times Beach unya hapit daw magkagubot didto, gusto man daw makigbalik niya (Balen allegedly went to Times Beach, he wanted to have my daughter back)," Ligal's father said.
Ligal immediately left the place and spent the night in a friend's house in SIR, New Matina.
As of Thursday afternoon, police have yet to inform Roda's family and relatives of her death.
| Post your experiences to the Sun.Star Graduation section. Click here. | 2005-02-24 04:52:02
mcalvo - My graduation was unforgettable to me and to my classmates. I was so drunk the night before graduation. During the ceremony i dozed to the point of snooring even when i was already standing i was half sleeping. Our dean has to call my name twice and the person behind me has to push me just to wake me up... graduations are memorable...enjoy and congratulations to all graduates!
Read more experiences |
(March 11, 2005 issue)
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