Pacatang slay suspect tagged in Lila robbery

BARELY a week after a police suspect tagged a former inmate at the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center (BDRC) as real suspect in the Nelson Pacatang murder, the same name popped up again. This time, witnesses have positively identified Ian Bautista as one of the two suspects who robbed and hogtied residents of a house in Lila.

Police records recently bare that robbers broke into a residence in sitio Guinsungagan, Barangay Bonkokan Ilaya last Tuesday evening. Initial reports said that about 7 pm last June 13, the victim identified as Erlinda Saballero, 55, married and a resident of the said place was watching TV with her family. That time too, two suspects were able to enter the house and declared a hold-up. The suspects were armed with a .38 caliber revolver and a kitchen knife. Getting into the stunned residents, robbers hogtied the victims using packaging tape.

The suspects then carted away a 5110 Nokia cellular phone, three wristwatches, P3,000 in cash and other valuables. Then, they fled from the scene on a gray motorcycle. Police however had a break as one of the suspects has been identified as Ian Bautista. Bautista was named by Christopher Buslon, a murder and carnapping suspect. Police have recovered from Buslon the missing motorcycle last driven by murder victim Nelson Pacatang. Denying involvement in the April 30 Pacatang murder, Buslon told the police that a certain friend, Ian Bautista left the motorcycle he was using. Unconfirmed information gathered by the Post said that Bautista was a Buslon's former inmate at the BDRC.

Bautista was allegedly accused of cattle rustling. Both Buslon and Bautista have long been freed accordingly on probation. It was not also certain if Bautista is operating alone or is affiliated with another notorious criminal band calling themselves Boac Gang. PO1 Rufino Taganahan of the Lila PNP said the suspects have remained at large until press time.

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