‘Doublecross’: Cagayan councilor held for murder of 4 car dealers dumped in cemetery

By Raymund Catindig and Liezle Basa Inigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- A municipal councilor of Amulung town was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of four people in Piat municipality on Wednesday.

Joey Bragado and his aide Jojo Vergara were collared at a warehouse in Barangay Villarey, according to Col. Ariel Quilang, Cagayan police director.

The wife of one of the fatalities identified Bragado through a picture sent by her husband showing the suspect and the victims during a drinking spree the night before their bullet-riddled bodies were found in an abandoned car in a cemetery in Barangay Villarey.

Quilang said probers are eyeing double-cross among car dealers as the motive for the killing.

Police found four cadavers supposedly of the car dealers in an abandoned car inside the public cemetery along the national highway in Barangay Villarey, Piat.

Quilang said the cadavers were discovered at around 4:45 a.m. of May 20.

They were identified as Michael Eugine Romero, a resident of 1-A Masbate St. Bago Bantay, Quezon City; Christian Kaibigan , a resident of Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas; Joel Bolado, of Tanguay Loob, Lipa City, Batangas; and Rommuel Quinan, of 134-B 6th Avenue East Rembo, Makati City and 14 Upper Malibu St, Fairview Quezon City.

Police investigators said Mary Immaculate Viaje, wife of Christian Kaibigan, one of the victims, Christian Kaibigan, said she was keeping in touch with her husband through messenger while they were traveling to Tuguegarao City.

Police said the victims were along Cabatuan, Isabela at around 2:19 p.m. on May 19, 2020, and arrived in Tuguegarao City at about 6:30 p.m.

They were seen at a warehouse at around 7:54 p.m. and having a drinking session based on the pictures sent by Kaibigan.

Kaibigan even texted his wife “Bukas na kami maaga” (we will go home early tomorrow morning) and the wife replied “Ingat sa pag uwi” (have a safe trip back) which was their last conversation.

The police were also able to contact Nerissa T. Velarde, the wife of victim Rommuel Quinan, through messenger.

Authorities are considering double-cross on car dealing and carnapping as the possible motives for the killing.