EXCLUSIVE: Pastor admits killing nursing student in Oriental Mindoro

MANILA — Authorities have taken into custody a pastor suspected of killing a third-year nursing student in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, after he voluntarily surrendered.

Police Col. Gerry Laylo, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Mimaropa police, went to a church along Legarda Street in Quiapo, Manila, after receiving information that the suspect had sought refuge there.

The suspect surrendered peacefully. Police informed him of his rights before placing him in handcuffs and bringing him to Calapan City.

Another pastor from the church helped convince the suspect to surrender.

“Kusang siyang sumama pagdating na pagdating namin, pagkapakilala ko sa sarili ko. Kasi kausap ko yung pastor nakausap niya. Pinakilala ako, nagpakilala ako. Nagpakilala din siya sa akin na, ‘Kayo po ba yung pinadala ni Pastor?’ ‘Opo, ako. Ako po yun si Colonel Laylo, pinadala ni Pastor,’” Laylo said.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the suspect admitted to killing the victim, claiming they had been in a relationship for more than a month.

He alleged that the victim had been pressuring him to acknowledge her pregnancy, even though he claimed they never had sexual intercourse.

“Inamin ko po ang nagawa kong pagpaslang… Dahil na din po sa matagal niya pong pagba-blackmail sa akin at laging pinipilit na sumama sa kanya at bumalik po sa kanya,” the suspect said.

“Ang inaano niya po kasi sa akin na buntis daw siya tapos ako ang ama kahit wala naman pong nangyari sa amin. Halos ilang buwan po yun na lagi niya pong sinasabi sa akin. Paulit-ulit lang po,” he added.

He said the victim picked him up using a borrowed motorcycle. He later took over the driving, and they traveled around until they reached a dark section of a road in Barangay Sapul, where they supposedly intended to talk.

The suspect claimed the victim said she needed to urinate in a grassy area and insisted that he accompany her.

He alleged that the victim suddenly pulled out a knife and tried to stab him, triggering a struggle between them.

“Pagdating po doon ay may dala pala siyang kutsilyo at ako po yung gusto niyang saksakin at noong nakita ko po iyon, sinangga ko po yung aking mga kamay kaya po yung mga sugat sa kamay ko ngayon ay dahil po ito doon sa pagsalag ko sa gusto niyang pagsaksak sa akin hanggang sa time na nahawakan ko po yung kutsilyo, pinipilit niya sa ‘kin hanggang nabali po yung hawakan at nabitawan niya po yung kutsilyo,” the suspect said.

He claimed he eventually overpowered the victim and killed her.

“Nahawakan ko po siya sa leeg tapos sinakal ko. Piniga ko po nang maigi yung kanyang leeg hanggang sa nawalan siya ng malay. Syempre natakot din ako na baka kapag nabuhay siya, magsumbong. Makukulong din po ako, mapaparusahan. Kaya ang ginawa ko po para sigurado, sinaksak ko na po yung kanyang leeg para mamatay pati po yung dibdib at yung sa tyan,” he said.

The suspect denied raping the victim, saying he only lowered her pants to mislead investigators.

“Para lumabas po na hindi ako ang may gawa, binaba ko yung pajama niya pero hindi ko siya ni-rape,” he added.

“Ang gusto ko lang sabihin sa pamilya ay dahil nagawa ko na yung krimen at hindi ko na po mababago yung katotohanan, sana po ay mapatawad nila ako at bigyan pa ng pagkakataon na pagbayaran yung kasalanang nagawa ko at mabago pa yung buhay ko at ang pangalan ko ay malinis din,” the suspect said. 

“Sana po ay, kung galit sila sa akin, sa akin na lang. Huwag na po nila idamay ang pamilya ko at yung pangalan ng ibang mga pastor,” he said.

After the killing, the suspect reportedly took a ship to Manila.

He claimed he met the victim through an outreach program for indigenous communities in Mindoro.

However, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, the victim’s father, Roden Gabayno, said his daughter had never mentioned being in a relationship with the suspect.

He rejected the suspect’s allegations that his daughter had blackmailed him or attempted to stab him first.

“Alam niyo po, yung anak ko po ay pinalaki ko nang maayos… Siguro wala sa hinahagap niya o sa isip niya na mangdisgrasya ng tao or what. At dahil babae nga siya at mahina, siyempre,” Gabayno said.

“Tsaka kung halimbawang gumawa man siya ng kwento, hindi niya naman mababali. Kasi kitang-kita eh, ebidensya, andun, pinatay niya. Kung anuman ang ginawa niya pa sa anak ko, wala siyang karapatan na magsalita kung ganun,” he added.

Gabayno said he had no information that his daughter was pregnant.

Despite the suspect’s apology, the victim’s father said he wanted him to face the full consequences of the crime.

“Ang gusto kong sabihin sa suspect, eh ‘di magsabi na lang siya ng totoo at panagutan niya na lang rin kung anong ginawa niya lalo’t pastor siya. Dapat ay inalagaan niya yung kanyang hinawakang titulo,” the victim’s father said.

Calapan police chief Lt. Col. Michael Caraggayan said authorities were still awaiting the autopsy results to determine whether the victim was pregnant.

The victim’s body was discovered at around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday in a grassy, secluded area of Barangay Sapul, Calapan City.

The suspect is detained at the Calapan City Custodial Facility, while police are preparing to file a murder case against him.

The victim’s remains are currently at her family’s home in Barangay Labonan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.