CASE closed.
That’s what police believe after five suspects in the killing of 16-year-old Grade 10 scholar Jerome Estan in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City last Saturday night, Aug. 6, 2022, were charged with robbery with homicide.
Estan was fatally stabbed after he fought back against his assailants who wanted to take his cellphone.
According to Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, Cebu City Police Office deputy director for administration, even though the two siblings who were tagged as the ones who stabbed Estan to death are still at large, they consider the case solved since the three other accused are in custody of local police and the Department of Social Welfare and Services and had confessed to their involvement in the crime.
He said that even though four of the accused are minors, they were still charged because they are over 15 years old.
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law sets the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15, holding children in conflict with the law accountable for their actions. A child under 15 years of age at the time the crime is committed is exempt from criminal liability and must undergo intervention.
Manhunt still on
Meanwhile, Parilla said they can still continue with the manhunt for the two remaining suspects even though the case was already filed before the local prosecutors.
Police believe the two suspects are still in Barangay Bulacao, staying with friends as they are reportedly orphans and have no known relatives.
Parilla said he ordered the Inayawan Police Station to be on the lookout for the two suspects.
He also urged whoever is harboring the siblings to surrender them to authorities so they can face the consequences of their actions.