THE police have detained the suspect in the slaying of 17-year-old girl Sharmaine Flores, a senior high school student who was found half-naked and dead in Purok 2, in the mountainous barangay of Bunga in Toledo City, midwest Cebu early morning on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.
But Toledo City Police Chief Lt. Col. Manolo Salvatierra stated that they have not ruled out the possibility that there may be another suspect aside from 29-year-old Jonathan dela Cerna Sugabo, who also happens to be the victim’s neighbor.
Sugabo, however, denied involvement in the crime.
Sugabo was reportedly spotted near the scene where Sharmaine’s body was discovered, according to some witnesses.
Salvatierra acknowledged that they relied solely on the testimony of the local witness because there was no CCTV in the vicinity.
Sharmaine’s family, including the suspect Sugabo, had previously submitted a swab sample for a DNA test, and the police are still waiting for the results, including the autopsy report, from the medico legal officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Unit 7.
Denial
Sugabo strongly denied killing Sharmaine during a media interview with him inside the Toledo City Police Station’s detention center.
Sugabo acknowledged that he was at the scene because it was where he frequently passed on his way home, but that did not mean that he killed the victim.
He said his arm and knee scratches were the result of cutting firewood. In fact, he claimed that these were about to heal or improve.
However, he admitted that he had used illegal drugs on Wednesday to keep him awake while collecting firewood.
In addition, he vehemently denied liking the victim, despite the victim’s mother’s claims that he always stared at her daughter when they were together.
“Ate Anna, it’s not true that I killed your daughter; if I was in the vicinity, why would I hurt her? If you don’t believe me, there is a swab test, and I’m confident that it will come back negative,” Sugabo said in Cebuano.
Despite Sugabo’s explanation, Sharmaine’s mother was certain that he was responsible after hearing some witness accounts, including one from a motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) driver who refused to be named.
The habal-habal driver claimed that Sugabo rode his motorcycle twice at around 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
He claimed that after talking for a while, he drove Sugabo near his residence.
At 10 p.m., he was on his way home when he met Sugabo once more on the road, whom he described as acting differently.
“Duha ka beses na siya nisakay nako, alas 8 ug alas 10; nya kanang orasa, humana to kay nakita nako sa iyang kamot nga naay dugo. Nag kitiw-kitiw man iyang kamot. Ana siya nga na koan kuno iyang samad,” the driver said.
(He rode with me twice, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., but by then the crime may have been already committed because I noticed blood on his hand. His hand was also quivering.)
On the other hand, Joshua, the victim’s older brother, claimed that Sharmaine had confessed to him that Sugabo had chatted with her and she didn’t appreciate his messages, but he did not take them seriously.
“Lain lagi ni’g chinatan si Atan kuya,” Sharmaine said to Joshua.
(There is something wrong with Atan’s chat, brother).
Meanwhile, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CCPO) officer-in-charge Col. Noel Flores praised the Toledo City Police Station for the speedy capture of the culprit.
“We guarantee the 17-year-old girl’s parents and Toledohanons that justice will be served,” Flores said.
The PNP Forensic Unit conducted an autopsy on the victim’s body and swab samples were taken from the suspect and the victim for DNA testing. / AYB. TPT