Suspect in Sagada ‘love triangle’ murder dropped

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province – A murder believed to be due to a love triangle which shocked this rustic tourist town took a twist when a complaint for murder filed against suspect Ramflor Valdez alias “Slogo” for the killing of Taymong ‘Elmo’ Panoyo was recommended for dismissal due to insufficient evidence.

Preliminary investigation conducted by Prosecutor William Dominguez, in the capital town of Bontoc found out that the only lone witness -- 11-year- old son of the victim, did not consistently identify the suspect Valdez.

The witness, at first meeting was not able to identify Valdez because it was a “little bit dark” but positively identified him the second time he was shown to the suspect.

Suspect Ramflor Valdez,47,in his counter affidavit said he was at Namaltugan, Sudipen, La Union when the crime happened.

This, as contained in the Jan. 31, 2013 resolution penned by Dominguez of the Department of Justice- Mountain Province suggesting to police investigators of the Sagada and Bontoc municipal police stations “to coordinate and conduct thorough and deeper investigation on the case so those responsible for the death of Elmo Panoyo be brought before the court of justice.”

Dominguez noted that police did not bother to look into allegations that a certain David Bebit and the wife of the victim, Diklawan Panoyo might be involved in the commission of the crime.

Said prosecutor’s recommendation for the dismissal of the murder charges against Valdez does not prejudice refilling of the same case upon additional and competent evidence to back the case up.

Panoyo, 44, was shot to near death along the Besao-Sagada road on October 30, 2012 by an unidentified killer who hired Panoyo’s jeep.

The dying Panoyo was brought to the Besao District Hospital by a passing passenger jeepney and pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds.