Lovers: We are innocent

Two of the suspects in the killing of Air Force sergeant Mark Herbert Oberes are claiming innocence, pointing to their fellow suspects as the real perpetrators.

Yesterday, Joshua Garciano and his girlfriend, Resamie Cabañog, pleaded for the latter’s mother, Edna, to surrender and clear their name.

“Ate( Edna ), arina…un ta hang yo ko nga ari na diri… limpyohi unta akong pangan… maluoy unta ka, Te…

Napa koy mga manghud pa-eskuylahon… ang ako mama napay sakit unya ingun ani lang,” Garciano said.

Cabañog, for her part, said:

“Muari lang unta siya diri para ma-okay na ang tanan… If wala siya diri, kami man ang ipiton, kami mapasanginlan nga kami nakapatay. Ma, anhi diri para ma-okay na kay ikaw ang maka-solve sa tanan.”

Garciano has executed an extrajudicial confession pointing to Edna, a certain Tommy Isugan, and two unidentified others as the killers.

Cabañog is expected to execute the same with the help of a lawyer.

Oberes was mauled, stabbed, and shot at Corazon Village 2 in San Isidro, Talisay City before his body was brought to Barangay Valencia in Carcar City where he was burned inside his own car last Wednesday night.

NOT LOVE TRIANGLE

In his extrajudicial confession, Garciano said he had nothing to do with the killing.

He said he and Cabañog have only been together for a month but prior to their relationship, Cabañog was in a relationship with Oberes, something that Edna reportedly disapproved of because Oberes was married.

Cabañog herself admitted that it was only in the second month of her relationship with Oberes that she found out he was married.

Still, their relationship lasted for five months.

Police said initially that Edna hired three men to harm Oberes after the latter threatened to make public his sex video with Cabañog if the girl would not meet him last Wednesday night.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Garciano said he and Cabañog agreed to meet with Oberes in Talisay City last Wednesday night because Oberes reportedly wanted to talk to them.

Initial reports had it that Oberes could not accept that Cabañog ended their relationship.

Garciano said Oberes arrived at their meeting place but right after he disembarked from his car, three men, one of whom was Isugan, also arrived, mauled him, and shot him thrice.

Garciano said one of the three men then pointed a gun at him and told him to drive Oberes’ car, a white Suzuki Ertiga, which they used to bring Oberes to Carcar.

Cabañog, Edna, and the two unidentified suspects also rode with Oberes positioned in between Edna and one of the unidentified suspects.

“Na-blanko ko unsa buhaton… nagpangurog ko nag-drive kay gitiunan ko. Nakadungog pa ko sa pagdunggab… paglingi nako, klaro ang tingug sa pagduslak nila Edna kang Oberes… nisyagit pa ko nga ayaw na, ayaw na tiwasi,” Garciano said.

It was reportedly Isugan that took over the vehicle Garciano brought, a Nissan Almera, and drove the same in the convoy to Carcar.

REMAINING DAYS

Cabañog, meanwhile, said her relationship with Oberes became rocky after Edna learned about it.

“Wala na mi klaro sa remaining nga months. Nag-conflict na kay nakahibaw ako mama nga uyab mi. Ako siya (Oberes) giingnan nga dili pwede kay dili ko ganahan makaguba og pamilya” she said.

She also belied allegations that she owned Oberes P50,000, the reason why the victim wanted to meet her in Talisay City that fateful night.

She said it was late Wednesday afternoon when Oberes called her and asked to see her and Garciano.

Edna who was there when Oberes called reportedly allowed her to meet the sergeant.

Cabañog asked Oberes’ family for forgiveness.

“Mangayo lang gyud mi sorry. Kami duha (she and Garciano) wala mi kahibaw nga ingon ato mahitabo,” she said.

Isugan worked as Edna’s motorcycle driver. Edna had a lending business in Talisay City and loaned money to construction workers near her house in Talisay.

It was there that Garciano met Cabañog because Garciano was the site’s project officerin-charge.

NPA LINKS?

The four suspects are believed to be hiding in Guihulngan town in neighboring Negros Oriental.

Yesterday, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said it will investigate Edna’s possible links to the New People’s Army (NPA).

Police found that Isugan was linked to the group. In 2013, he was reportedly involved in an ambush in Guihulngan but he was released from jail as he was just 17 years old at that time.

"Tinitingnan natin kasi kung bakit siya may connection," said PRO-7 Director, P/Chief Supt. Robert Quenery.

A manhunt is underway to arrest the suspects.

Oberes’ family refused to grant an interview as of yesterday.