Mindanaotoday.com | Police: Korean murder case ‘solved’
By: Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The murder of a Korean missionary in Bukidnon has been considered a solved case by the police authorities after the recent arrest of the suspect, the Bukidnon police said on Wednesday, January 18.
Major Jiselle Longakit, Bukidnon Police Provincial Office spokesperson, said the suspect, who was identified as Warner Tulun-an Jr., was arrested on Sunday, Jan. 15 due to the continuous hot pursuit police operation following the shooting incident on January 13.
The victim, identified as Guidong Gwon or also known as “Pastor Samuel Gwon”, 53, was shot dead by the suspect due to alleged personal grudge at Purok 2 Patulangan, Brgy. Capitan Bayong, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.
Major Jaemar Paguidopon, Impasug-ong police chief, in a phone interview on Wednesday, Jan. 18, elaborated that the personal grudge of the suspect was due to land conflict.
“There might be issues with the areas of their (victim) establishments. We are not yet sure which establishments as their church has many affiliations. As of now, our investigation is ongoing to determine the main reason,” Paguidopon said in vernacular.
Gwon was a resident of Purok 12, Brgy. Poblacion, Cabanglasan town in the same province. He was a missionary of Global Vision Baptist Church and a school assistant administrator at the Province Mountain Christian Academy in Cabanglasan.
Longakit confirmed the suspect was also involved in a shooting incident in Malaybalay City in July 2021. However, no case has been filed due to amicable settlement.
Gwon sustained four gunshot wounds from the different parts of his body. The authorities tried to rush the victim to Impasug-ong Rural Health Center during the incident but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The police have recovered eight fired cartridge cases, four deformed slugs and two live ammunition of caliber .45 pistol.
Paguidopon said the Bukidnon provincial police headquarters listed the said case as one of the priorities to immediately arrest the suspect and provide justice to the victim.
“Our provincial director, Col. Reynante Reyes, sent tracker teams from BukPPO (Bukidnon Police Provincial Office) to give priority and for the immediate resolution of this case,” Paguidopon said in a video posted online.
The town police chief also thanked the informants as well as the residents in the said area for helping the police to have a solid lead pertaining to the identification and whereabouts of the suspect.
The victim’s family, together with the witness, already went before the provincial prosecutor’s office in Malaybalay City to file a formal criminal complaint for the inquest proceedings against the suspect in the case of murder.
As of this writing, the suspect is currently detained at the custodial facility of Impasug-ong Municipal Police Station. (MT)
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