THE arrested suspect accused of killing the former bookkeeper of Barangay 76-A Bucana denied any involvement in the murder claiming he was "on-duty" when the incident happened at corner San Pedro and Legaspi Streets in Davao City in August 2013.
An operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Davao who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak, told Sun.Star Davao that the suspect Ramil Galabin, alias Rammil Galadin or Jao, 34, and a resident of SIR Phase 1 in Matina, denied killing Jessie de Dios Nunez.
"Wala man siya niamin nga siya ang nagpatay kay ingon niya nga wala daw siya sa panghitabo. Ana siya naa pud daw siyay mga witness nga makaingon nga nagduty daw siya tong panahona, (He did not admit to the killing saying that he was not around during the incident. He also said he has witnesses who could attest that he was on-duty that time.)" the source said.
The CIDG-Davao operative also said Galabin was employed under former village chief Robert Olanolan as a barangay tanod contrary to the previous accusations that he was a personal bodyguard of the village chief.
"He said he was a barangay tanod who was tasked to conduct patrols in the barangay to monitor and prevent any criminalities. He also said he did not go to Digos City to hide from the crime but rather to look for another job as he lost his job when Olanolan was not re-elected," the source added.
Galabin was supposed to be presented before Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 Judge Retrina Fuentes who is handling the murder case against him yet the judge was on leave. Thus, the suspect appeared before Fuentes' pairing judge RTC Branch 11 Judge Virginia Europa.
The suspect is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Davao in Ma-a while his arraignment has yet to be scheduled. (RSA)