BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Illegal drugs may have precipitated the gruesome slaughter of four family members in Barangay Tangub here.
Suspect Christian “Dondon” Tulot made an extrajudicial confession – that he was indeed involved in the killing of his aunts Jocelyn Nombre and Gemma Espinosa, cousin John Michael Espinosa, and niece Precious Jona.
Tulot also named two other companions in the massacre: his uncle Joel Espinosa, brother of Jocelyn and Gemma, and a certain “Bro”.
But later in the day he said he was the sole culprit.
Joel was nevertheless traced and taken to Police Station 8 here. Policemen noted that he seemed to be suffering from a mental illness.
“Bro”, meanwhile, remained at large and unidentified.
Early last night, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) announced having recovered the murder weapons in the Nombre house.
SINISTER SUNDAY
In an interview with the media yesterday morning, Tulot said the crime was committed around 8 to 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 4.
“Involved ako pero wala man ko nahimo… natulala ako,” Tulod said.
He added: “Si Bro ang naglampos, tapos si ‘To Joel ang nagabaklid.”
The two were wielding a hammer and a cane knife (espading), he claimed.
Michael was first to be killed, he said, then Jocelyn and Gemma.
As to the child, “Ambot sa ila ah,” Tulot said, claiming that the minor was still alive when he left the house around 11 a.m.
“Sila nag-ubos waay ko ya nag ano,” he said.
DRUGS IN THE PICTURE
According to Police Major Joery Puerto, BCPO Police Station 8 commander, Tulot claimed Michael and “Bro” had an argument that Sunday morning. Michael allegedly owed some P35,000 from “Bro” for shabu.
“Amu tu gin-istoryahan nila, ang ‘items’ nga P35,000,” Tulot said.
As for Tulot himself, he faces a separate charge for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Tulot was traced on April 7 to Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental. Police invited him for questioning.
When frisked, he yielded five sachets of suspected shabu.
Tulot denied the shabu was his but he admitted to being a user.
He will also undergo forensic examination, while police continue to investigate and validate his claims.
Puerto explained that in the forensic examination, Tulot will undergo DNA test to determine if some of the blood traces recovered in the victims’ home would match.
He particularly noted that Tulot had several scratches in his hands. The suspect initially claimed that he got involved in a motorcycle accident.
This massacre was the second recorded in the city in 21 years, following the Rivilla Massacre in December of 2000 when six family members and two house helpers were murdered.
‘WE WANT JUSTICE’
In an interview with DYWB Bombo Radyo Bacolod yesterday, Rose Lumogdang, the mother of six-year-old Precious and live-in partner of Michael, expressed shock.
Lumogdang was working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Daw indi ko gid mabaton nga wala na si Inday,” she said. “Tani wala nyo gindalahig ang bata ko…wala sia kamuwang-muwang.”/PN
