Murder, theft raps filed vs suspects in farmer’s death

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

CRIMINAL charges were filed against two suspects in the death of a 72-year-old farmer in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Levi Cain of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Sta.  Barbara, and his brother-in-law, Rey Delgado, 55, of Barangay Maravilla, Pototan town, were charged for murder and theft on Friday, Sept. 13, before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

A witness identified Delgado as the one who shot Gilcito Bacanto on Sept. 11.

While Delgado was the gunman, the witness claimed Cain was also in the area when the murder happened.

Police Major Fernand Limbungan, Sta. Barbara police chief, said the victim’s family believed that Cain paid Delgado to do the job.

Aside from murder, police filed a theft case after learning that the victim’s wallet containing around P10,000 was missing.

Bacanto was about to buy corn seeds at the town proper when he was waylaid and shot to death.

Limbungan said land dispute is the motive for the incident.

Bacanto was the trusted man of Atty. del Rosario, the owner of the lot, in cultivating the 2-hectare farm land.

He was allegedly warned by Cain against tilling the property.

A day before the incident happened, the victim went to the police station to book the threat on his life.

The threat stated, “Kon sigehon ya pamanggas sang mais sa duta, may malain gid nga matabo sa iya.”