THE suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Rhea Mae Tocmo was arrested again for allegedly robbing a woman in Toledo City in June 2023 of P150,000 in cash and P180,000 in jewelry.
But Simeon Gabutero alias Gabro, 22, a native of Barangay Sagay, Toledo City, who is currently detained at the Labangon Police Station 10, said he would confess to killing Tocmo but not to the allegations of robbery.
“Wala ko manulis sir uy, kining kang Rhea angkunon naku ni kay tinuod man ni pero kanang tulis wala ko maghimo ana,” Gabutero said.
(I did not commit the robbery sir, I would acknowledge about Rhea since it is true, but about the robbery, I did not do it).
Toledo City Police Station Chief Lieutenant Colonel Manolo Salvatierra and his men served the warrant of arrest against Gabutero in his detention cell in Labangon at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
The arrest warrant with a bail amount of P200,000 was issued by Judge Ruben Fermin Altubar of Regional Trial Court branch 29 in Toledo City on August 30, 2023.
Gabutero also denied the claim that he was romantically involved with Jewel Smith, a friend of Tocmo who allegedly extended an invitation for the latter, a resident of the Misamis Oriental town of Jasaan, to visit Cebu.
In opposition to Gabutero's claim that he killed Tocmo because she had numerous lovers, a new witness by the name of Bianca testified that the victim caught Gabutero and Smith having sex in her boarding house in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.
But Gabutero denied the allegations saying he had not seen Jewel and could not even recognize her.
He also denied going to Looc even if the CCTV cameras in the area would be checked.
“Wala man gani ko makakita anang bayhana mag-kuan na nuon mi. Balikon nako sir nga nahimo nako to kang Rhea kay akong nahibaw-an nga daghan kaayo siyag lake,” Gabutero said.
(How come we had sex when I didn't even see that woman. I repeat, sir, I did it to Rhea because I found out that she had many lovers).
Police Major Angelito Valleser, the chief of the Labangon Police Station, declared that Bianca's claims to have a copy of the CCTV footage demonstrating that Tocmo's body was thrown from the taxicab ridden by Smith were untrue.
Valleser clarified that the only CCTV in Sitio Mohon in Tisa is the one in their custody, because the other surveillance camera in the area was not working.
“Kung naa siyay CCTV sir mas maayo nga iya nang ipakita aron masayran nato unsa na katinuod, kung gusto siya iyang dalhon sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) kung wala siyay salig namo, dili lang unta siya mag-imbento og istorya kay pulos man ta nangitag hustisya sa kamatayon ni Rhea Mae,” Valleser said.
(If she has a CCTV, sir, it would be best for her to show it so that we will know the truth; if she wouldn’t trust us, she can bring it to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). I only hope that she won't make up a story because we are all seeking justice for Rhea Mae's death).
Valleser said they are still studying whether to file a case against Bianca in the event that their investigation shows she was lying. (AYB, TPT)