Two suspects linked to Teves murder case in Negros Oriental shot dead

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A foreigner and his girlfriend were gunned down by unidentified perpetrators in separate incidents in Valencia, Negros Oriental last Wednesday.

The victims were identified as Tim Moerch, 45, a Danish national, and Myla Cagas.

Moerch and Cagas, along with another suspect, were tagged in the killing of 42-year-old Don Paulo Teves, younger brother of Valencia Mayor Edgar Teves Jr.

Don Paulo was found lifeless with a gunshot wound in the head and wrapped in a blanket in Barangay Calayugan last Monday.

The three suspects have been identified by a witness as the persons last seen with Don Paulo when he was still alive at the couple’s rented house in Barangay West Balabag.

The couple was arrested a few hours after the discovery of Don Paulo’s body, while the other suspect, who visited the couple at their house on the day of the incident, was apprehended the following day.

Police Corporal Rex Smith Galsing, investigator of Valencia Municipal Police Station, said the three suspects were released from police custody last Wednesday due to some technicalities in their arrest.

Despite this, Galsing said that murder charges have been filed against the three suspects.

Police earlier said that they are looking into grudges as a possible motive in the death of Don Paulo as the victim had a misunderstanding with Moerch.

Galsing said that Moerch was fetched by his wife Karen Kate at the police station upon his release. They both left on board a motorcycle.

Later that night, Galsing said they just received reports of twin shooting incidents.

The first incident was reported in Barangay Poblacion, where Cagas was killed; while the other one was in Barangay Balugo, killing Moerch and his wife.

Galsing said they have no witnesses in the two incidents, thus, they don’t have a lead yet on the perpetrators.

Galsing also said they could not establish if the shootings can be linked to the case of Don Paulo.

“Blanko pa as of now,” he added.