Troubled by his conscience, the gunman who murdered the barangay captain in Binobohan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, surrendered to his detachment commander Monday afternoon.

Civilian Active Auxiliary member, Cirilo Tejares, 29, married, admitted having killed Barangay Captain Norberto Recabo, 50, married, Saturday.

Tejares, claimed that the barangay captain wanted him to kill somebody in his barangay and if he disobeys, he will suffer the consequences.

At first, Tejares said, he thought the barangay captain was joking, but later realized that he was serious, prompting him to plan on how to get him first.

He shot Recada at close range while he was guarding sacks of rice in the chapel. Recada was talking with barangay tanods Guilly Escoba and Gaudencio Bayato at the time. Both were picked up for questioning and a third suspect with whom Recada had a minor altercation, about the distribution of relief goods.

Later Tejares, said he fled under cover of darkness, buried the murder weapon in a sitio, and went back to the CAA detachment in Binobohan.

Tejares said he surrendered to clear the names of those being suspected of the crime, and to stop insinuations the killing was politically motivated.

He also denied the crime was committed so his father, who is the number one barangay kagawad of barangay Binobohan, will succeed Recada upon his death.

Tejares said his father has nothing to do with his actions.

Murder raps are being readied against Tejares, PNP provincial director, Senior Supt. Eduard Carranza, said.

Carranza said he considered the murder case closed with the surrender of the suspect. Investigations also showed that the victim was bragging that he will cause the termination of Tejares as an army auxiliary.*JG

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