ILOILO – Authorities have officially filed a charge of rape with homicide against a 26-year-old motorcycle-for-hire (habal-habal) driver in connection with the rape and killing of 18-year-old Candie Tabanda inside her bedroom in Barangay Ingay, Tubungan town.
Aljohn Jalbuna was brought to the Iloilo Hall of Justice yesterday morning, June 23, for the formal filing of the case. He previously confessed to killing the teenager but continues to deny raping her, despite autopsy findings that indicate otherwise.
“He did not admit to sexually assaulting the victim, but he has already given his side of the story to his lawyer,” said Captain Alberto Manguilimotan, chief of the Tubungan Municipal Police Station (MPS). “The autopsy report shows that the victim sustained anal wounds and had four hematomas on her head, which suggests she was punched.”
In his statement to the police, Jalbuna claimed that he entered Candie’s room at around 2 a.m. on June 17 through the window. He said he was feeling emotionally distressed at the time and did not intend to kill her.
“I went into her room because I just wanted to touch her,” Jalbuna told police investigators. “But when she woke up, I saw that she wasn’t wearing any underwear. I covered her mouth so she wouldn’t scream. We struggled and fell to the floor, and her head hit the ground.”
However, the medico-legal examination conducted by Dr. Owen Lebaquin contradicted his claims. The autopsy revealed signs of sexual abuse and multiple head injuries consistent with physical assault.
Jalbuna also admitted that he had used illegal drugs hours before the crime. He told police that he took drugs with three companions around 9 p.m. on June 16, although he refused to say where the drug session took place.
“He admitted to using illegal drugs before the crime,” Manguilimotan added. “He mentioned the names of his companions, but we are still verifying those details.”
Police are now working to identify and question the individuals Jalbuna said he used illegal drugs with prior to the incident.
This is not the first time Jalbuna has had a run-in with the law. He has previous records for cattle theft, trespassing, and harassing women in his barangay.
He is currently detained at the Tubungan MPS, facing a non-bailable offense.
To recall, Candie’s lifeless body was discovered by her mother around 5 p.m. on June 17, several hours after the alleged crime took place. Her siblings, who were working in New Zealand, flew home after learning of the tragedy.
“I don’t care if Aljohn Jalbuna feels remorse,” said Irish, Candie’s elder sister. “His remorse won’t bring my sister back.”/PN
