By Jennifer P. Rendon
One of the suspects who allegedly killed a teenage boy was arrested evening of February 16, 2021.
Police identified the suspect as Albert Barrio alias Sweet, a 30-year-old man from Poblacion Ilaya, Pontevedra, Capiz.
Major Aldren Lamera, Estancia police chief, said Barrio was arrested at Poblacion Zone 3, Estancia.
He was staying at his aunt’s house in Barangay Daan Banwa, the village where the cadaver was found.
Barrio’s two other companions when he allegedly killed alias Nonoy remain at large.
Lamera said they have a witness who pointed Barrio as the suspect.
While the suspects were already known, police have yet to identify the victim.
Lamera said Barrio identified the victim as alias Nonoy, a resident of Roxas City.
He allegedly brought the victim to stay with him at Estancia.
“We presumed that he wanted Nonoy to do some things, but the victim wasn’t able to perform,” he said.
It is possible that the two figured in a heated argument until the victim punched the suspect’s eye, which led to a scuffle.
There were also reports that aside from Barrio, the victim also had bad blood with the suspect’s friends.
It was gathered that Barrio’s other friend, alias Smile, is now detained in Balasan town for the same modus operandi.
“It only goes to show that this has been their group’s habit,” Lamera said.
Nonoy’s body was found on the roadside in Estancia, Iloilo on February 14.
It was initially thought that he was a victim of hazing since his body bore head injuries.
Two bamboo poles around a meter long were found near the body.
The victim suffered laceration on his right eyebrow and multiple injuries on his head, which he could have gotten after he was struck with a hard object for several times.
Both his eyes also sustained hematoma, which could indicate that he was punched several times.
