1 of 2 brothers in UST grad's killing insists on innocence

One of the two suspects in the brutal killing of University of Sto. Tomas graduate Cyrish Magalang has denied involvement in the crime and instead pointed to his brother as the sole culprit. Twenty-four-year-old Roel Gacita Jr., a tricycle driver, said he knew nothing about what his elder brother, Rollin, 27, a vegetable vendor, did to Magalang. "Hindi ko na alam ano nangyari ... biktima lang din ako," he said in an interview, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio. The Gacita brothers were arrested early Friday, two days after Magalang was found dead with 49 stab wounds in Bacoor town in Cavite. The victim had just graduated from the UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management. According to Roel, Rollin rode with him on his tricycle on the night of the incident, and that when Magalang rode on, his elder brother instructed him to take them to the scene of the crime. A separate report by dzBB's Sam Nielsen said Rollin insisted he did not know the victim and that he did not know what he was doing. The report also quoted Rollin as saying that his brother had nothing to do with it, and asked forgiveness from the victim's family. Police investigators are mulling additional charges against the two for attempted rape, after getting information the victim's underwear was lowered. Police are also tightening security for the brothers at the police station's detention facility, after the other inmates allegedly tried to lynch them. Bacoor police head Superintendent Romano Cardino said many of the inmates were outraged over the brutal crime. "Kahit akusado dapat proteksyunan natin. Meron tayong regular gwardya diyan dagdagan natin para security," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Cardino had earlier said the brothers admitted to taking drugs when arrested and interrogated. — KBK, GMA News