Unusually quick arrests for Bacoor killing earn police praise

The Bacoor police was commended by anti-crime advocates for the quick arrests of two brothers in the brutal killing of 20-year-old Cyrish Magalang, a fresh cum laude graduate of UST. However, one of the brothers  tried to exonerate his sibling of any involvement. 

 

In a radio interview, suspect Rolin Gacita maintained that only he was responsible for the killing of Cyrish Magalang, and not his brother Roel Jr., a tricycle driver.

 

"Pinagsisihan ko na ang nagawa ko, pagdudusahan ko [ang] ginawa ko. Inaamin ko, ako may gawa. Lango ako sa alak at droga kaya ko nagawa iyan," he said in an interview on dzBB radio, shortly before he and his brother were brought to the Cavite Provincial Prosecutor's Office to be charged. Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime ang Corruption (VACC) was quoted on radio commending the unusually quick action of the police in pursuing leads provided by witnesses and arresting the two brothers. Jimenez also renewed his call to revive the death penalty for such heinous crimes.  Many other violent crimes go unpunished and remain mysteries.  Suspect blames shabu high for brutality Rolin Garcia had earlier admitted that after a quarrel with his wife, he had consumed alcohol and taken shabu, and was looking for a victim to take his anger out on.  The victim, Cyrish Magalang, was a passenger waiting for a ride at the tricyle terminal where his brother Roel was a driver. She was stabbed a reported 49 times while apparently fighting back while the attacker attempted to rape her. 

 

Rolin said he was saddened that his brother was dragged into the mess. Earlier, Roel had claimed he had nothing to do with the incident and that he was also a "victim."

 

The two brothers were brought to the prosecutor's office under heavy police guard, according to a report by dzBB's Sam Nielsen.

 

Police said they are guarding the two lest they be lynched by irate bystanders. The two had already been under tight guard in detention lest fellow inmates beat them up.

 

Both brothers were arrested Friday for the killing of Magalang, who was found dead with 49 stab wounds last week in Bacoor, Cavite.

 

Meanwhile, Rolin confirmed drug use among tricycle drivers in parts of Bacoor. Police said they are conducting stricter drug tests of tricycle drivers in the area following the killing.

 

The killing has also prompted anti-crime groups to call for the reimposition of the death penalty, but Malacañang and Catholic Church officials have thumbed down such calls. — RSJ/HS, GMA News