Police Colonel Alberto Lupaz, director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and head of the Special Investigation Task Force (SITG) Bragas announced on Tuesday that on the police level, the rape-slay case of Architect Vlanche Marie Bragas is now closed.
This developed after another suspect, Jimmy Bayantong Lobiano, was killed after resisting arrest on July 15, 2023.
Lobiano had a standing warrant issued by Judge Dante Baguio and served by the DCPO on July 4, 2023 for allegedly raping his mentally challenged niece.
The pedicab (ongbak), which is among the significant evidences in the Bragas case, was recovered where a piece of earring was found. The said earring matched the earrings that Bragas was wearing the night the crime happened.
“Sa level namo (police) muingon nami nga case closed kay tanan suspects na filan na ug kaso ug na recover na ang ongbak so we will consider it case closed. Depende na sa kung unsa pa ang pangitaon sa korte,” Lupaz told media in a press conference at Camp Domingo Leonor on Tuesday.
Last month, SITG Bragas filed rape with homicide case against the suspects namely Kent Laurence Metegreto Espinosa, who is still missing or at large; Dennis Roy P. Panzan, who was severely injured and died at the Davao Adventist Hospital; and Renato Ali “Empoy” Bayansao, the alleged driver of the ombak that Bragas boarded, and is now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao after he was apprehended during a drug buy-bust operation last May 28, 2023 in Purok 8, Calinan District.
“Base sa mga panghitabo, ilaha ning giplanuhan (si Bragas). Nag arkila sila ug pedicab ug gigamit sa krimen,” Lupaz said.
Lupaz is also of the belief that Lobiano and some of the suspects were acquaintances.
“Naa seguro isa sa ilaha nga kaila niya,” he said.
The police got hold of the ongbak on Monday after the supervisor of Emcor in Calinan branch informed Major Ricky Obenza, station commander of the Calinan Police Station, of the ongbak the company impounded after the owner failed to pay monthly dues for two months.
“Major Obenza was informed by the supervisor of Emcor Calinan branch na may gi-impound sila na ongbak kay wala nakabayad for two months. Based on the information na gihatag sa taga Emcor, the ongbak has the same description used in the rape-slay of Bragas. The investigators proceeded to the said branch. Gi check nila ug medyo hugaw ang unit seguro kay wala nahinluan for the past two months and the investigators checked the vehicle,” Lupaz said.
The investigators also found a piece of earring on the floor of the said vehicle.
“Fortunately, may nakita sila na one piece of earring ug confident mi nga mao to ang gigamit sa krimen,” Lupaz said referring to the ongbak.
Lupaz said that in the affidavit issued by the owner of the ongbak, he stated that on May 15, 2023, Lobiano rented the pedicab for P5,000 and promised to return the vehicle on the 17th.
It can be recalled that the SITG searched for the ongbak that Bragas boarded during the crime for a long time.
When asked why the driver did not surrender the vehicle, Lupaz said he may be frightened to get involved in the case.
“Seguro nahadlok siya nga maapil siya. Pero ang sa amoa kay ni cooperate siya ug nag isyu siya ug affidavit. Mag depende mi sa recommendation sa Prosecutor’s Office kung unsa ang buhaton sa operator sa ongbak kung filan ba siya ug kaso. Ug kung need sa korte ug testimony na iyahang gipaarkilahan ang ongbak kay Lobiano, i-produce gyud namo na,” he said.
Lupaz added that the ongbak has no franchise and that it was only being used by the owner in delivering plants and sometimes have it rented out.
Lupaz said they already submitted their supplemental affidavit to the Prosecutor’s Office and still waiting for its additional recommendation for the case.
