Ballistics examination of a Cal. 45 pistol recovered from one of four robbery gang suspects killed in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental a few weeks ago suggest it could be the same gun used in the murder of lawyer Ramon Eduardo Elesteria in nearby Bayawan City last month.
Bayawan City OIC chief of police Supt. Dominiciano Distrito, Jr. said the empty shell and slugs recovered from the firearm of Bonifacio Castanes, Jr., who was gunned down by police operatives indicate similar characteristics to that of the evidences recovered from the crime scene where Elesteria was shot dead.
This was reported during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting held recently.
Distrito further said that one of four facial composites taken by a cartographer from Cebu on the four suspects responsible for the killing of Elesteria also has similarity to the facial profile of Castanes, who was a “habal-habal” or motorcycle-for-hire driver.
In lieu of this development, the Bayawan police considered the case as “cleared” while relatives of the victims of shooting incidents cannot just accept such pronouncement as they continue to cry for justice for their loved ones.
The three others who were killed in the Sta. Catalina police operation included Marcos Pastula Garsula alias “Michael”, who has a standing warrant of arrest, Junjun Surbito and another unidentified suspect.
They were shot dead after they allegedly resisted arrest and fired at law enforcement authorities who were to serve a warrant of arrest against Garsula.
Meanwhile, OIC PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos has authorized the release of the digital facial composites of the suspects in the murder of lawyer Ramon Eduardo Elesteria.
The circulation and publication of these digital sketches would help police investigators dig deeper in their probe as to the identities of the suspects and the motive in the killing of Elesteria, he said.
Sr. Supt. Carlos, however, cautioned against getting excited over the possibility the Elesteria murder has been solved as the suggested gun match is just one part of the entire investigation. (PNA)
