Murder raps filed vs teen in Bacolod doc’s murder

Murder charges were filed this week against a teenager in the brutal killing of doctor Andres Gumban earlier this month. Bacolod City police chief Senior Superintendent Ricardo dela Paz said the charges were approved by City Prosecutor Amando Abanado. Charged was Pof Pascual, 18, of Brgy. Tadlong, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, upon the recommendation of inquest prosecutor Dennis Jarder, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday. The City Prosecutor’s Office gave social workers five days to evaluate if the other suspect, a 16-year-old from Cadiz City, "acted with discernment" when he committed the crime. Dela Paz said this will help the city prosecutor's office determine whether to file charges against the 16-year-old as well. Pascual and the 16-year-old, whom Gumban met on Facebook, were arrested after they killed the doctor at his house at Regent Pearl Homes Subdivision in Bacolod last week. Evidence in the case included a video of how brutally Gumban was killed – which contradicted the suspects' claims of self-defense. Investigators failed to establish robbery as there were no items owned by the doctor that were recovered from the two suspects when they were arrested. The Visayan Daily Star report quoted the 16-year-old's father as saying no lawyer would defend his son after the mobile phone video was shown. The 16-year-old is presently at the city's Social Development Center, detained separately from 45 other youths in conflict with the law, as he is the only one facing possible charges for a heinous crime. Policemen assigned at the SDC were told to guard the minor 24 hours a day and make sure that only his family can visit him. Gumban is to be buried Sunday at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park after a 10 a.m. Mass at the Triumph of the Holy Cross Church in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City. — LBG, GMA News