GINGOOG City — A 17-year-old car wash attendant surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon, five days after the stabbing death of health official Downy Valdevilla Jr.
Gingoog City Police Chief Lt. Col. Dennis de los Santos confirmed the surrender in a phone interview.
Valdevilla, 54, the son of a retired judge, was killed Friday, Nov. 14, inside his gold Hyundai Starex van in Barangay 16.
De los Santos said investigators quickly identified the suspect, who worked at a local car wash. Officers brought the teenager to the station for questioning, where he voluntarily surrendered and allegedly confessed to the crime.
Preliminary investigations suggest the killing stemmed from a disagreement over money.
According to police, the suspect allegedly stabbed Valdevilla in Gingoog City, then drove the van containing the victim's body through Claveria to the neighboring town of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. The suspect reportedly washed and changed clothes before abandoning the vehicle and returning to Gingoog.
Police in Jasaan discovered the abandoned van and Valdevilla's body along the national highway in Barangay Solana at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds.
Gingoog City Mayor Erick G. Cañosa condemned the incident during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, ordering the police to solve the crime immediately. De los Santos subsequently formed a team to assist Jasaan authorities in the manhunt that led to the suspect's surrender.
