AFTER six days of hiding, a pastor who ran over and killed a young doctor gave himself up to the police Wednesday, February 13, in Santiago town, Agusan del Norte.
Police identified the pastor as Charlie Cayetano Prior, a former spiritual adviser in Butuan City Hall.
At 8:50 p.m. February 7, Prior (then unidentified) was driving on the national highway of Zone-2, Barangay Poblacion 2, Santiago, Agusan del Norte, when he hit Dr. Zuriel G Arambulo, 28, a Department of Health-Doctor to the Barrio in Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
Arambulo did not survive the hit and run.
Police Chief Superintendent Gilberto DC Cruz, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Caraga director, said the PNP Caraga received a number of tips about the case but during the investigation, none of the reported vehicles were involved.
The PRO-Caraga put up a P50,000-reward to the person who could point to the hit-and-run driver. This "added pressure to (Prior) which resulted in his surrender," Cruz said.
"Hair strands were recovered by Scene of the Crime Operatives from the vehicle and will be subjected for DNA testing, while the vehicle is under the custody of Crime Laboratory Office 13 for further scientific examination," Cruz said.
An emotional Prior interviewed by dxBN Radyo ng Bayan Butuan said he was driving the Montero SUV which hit and killed the doctor.
He apologized to the Arambulo family and asked for their forgiveness.
Prior said it was not his intention to leave Arambulo's body as he was only confused on what to do at the time. (SunStar Cagayan de Oro)