Recovered cell phone leads to Numancia homicide suspect

AKLAN – The stolen cell phone recovered from a notorious theft suspect helped authorities identify the suspect in a robbery-homicide crime against a f ormer overseas Filipino worker.

Analyn Mostajo Rembulat was killed inside her house in Barangay Pusiw, Numancia, Aklan. The victim’s body was found in the morning of February 18 by her brother.

On February 2 4 , a t around 11 p. m., Emelito Roldan Alapag was nabbed along Roxas Avenue and L. Barrios Street in Kalibo after he sold a stolen cell phone to a tricycle driver for P1,500.

Police recovered the cell phone and determined that Rembulat was its owner.

The 35-year-old suspect, a resident of Bakhaw Norte, Kalibo, Aklan, was charged with violation of the AntiFencing Law before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

In police custody, Alapag admitted to breaking into Rem bu lat’ s house and strangling the 59- year- old woman.

“Nakainom aku ag nabugtawan aku it baye pagsueod ko sa baeay. Panakaw kunta ang panaw,” the suspect said.

Analyn’s mother was also at home at the time of the attack. She was unhurt in the home invasion.

When the police arrived, they found no forced entry. The suspect reportedly entered the house through an unlocked rear door.

Police said the cause of Rembulat’s death was blunt force to the head and stab wounds to the body.

“May na kit a na two penetrating wound sat punctured wounds sa biktima, ayon sa autopsy report. Patuloy ang ating imbestigasyon dahil wala tayong witnesses sa krimen,” Numancia acting police chief Captain Maricel Guevarra told the reporters in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 27.

Analyn’s family announced a funeral service would be held on Saturday, March 2, in Numancia public cemetery.