BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO

In a shocking twist to the viral Tubigon rape-murder case, prime suspect Frede Cirilo Nocos has implicated the husband of the victim, Roselyn “Osie” Gaoiran, in her tragic death.

The allegation surfaced during an interview with Tubigon Mayor William Jao, conducted by journalist Ardy Araneta-Batoy.

Nocos, who has admitted to his direct involvement in the killing, claimed in a sworn statement that it was actually Carmelo Gaoiran, the victim’s husband, who committed the murder.

Following the discovery of Osie’s body in Loon on April 15, 2024, Nocos voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

He also made an extrajudicial admission in the presence of a lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, reports suggest.

Osie was reported missing on April 3, 2024, during her shift at an LPG retailing station in Tubigon.

Nocos was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation as he was the last person seen with Osie.

Approximately two weeks later, Osie’s remains were discovered in a sack in a remote area of Loon town.

Nocos’ statement, divulged by Loon Police Station Chief Maj. Rey Olar, suggests that Nocos and Osie were in a relationship and were caught by Carmelo in a compromising situation, leading to the tragic event.

Despite these claims, the credibility of Nocos’ account is under scrutiny. 

Consequently, only Nocos faces murder charges, with no legal action taken against the husband as of yet.

The investigation remains active as authorities continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding Roselyn Gaoiran’s rape and murder.

In the latest development of the Roselyn Gaoiran murder case, the Bohol Provincial Prosecutors Office has issued a statement regarding the charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Loon Municipal Police Office, and Tubigon Municipal Police Office against suspect Nocos.

The order from the prosecutors’ office has declared the warrantless arrest made by the Loon police as invalid, thereby ruling out the possibility of an inquest proceeding for the case.

Despite this, the case has been accepted for a regular preliminary investigation. The prosecutors have clarified that the case has not been dismissed.

As a result, the prosecutors have ordered the release of the suspect.

Nocos has been granted a period of 10 days to respond to the allegations he faces.

Following the receipt of the suspect’s response, the prosecutors will schedule a date for the preliminary investigation.

The prosecutors’ office has 60 days to issue a resolution on whether to proceed with filing the case in court, depending on whether probable cause is found. Concurrently, they will request the judge to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspect.

Until such a warrant is issued by the court, the suspect will remain free.

Questions Raised Over Warrantless Arrest

The viral murder case in Bohol has sparked a legal debate after the Provincial Prosecution Office found the arrest of the suspect, Frede Cirilo Nocos y Urot, to be invalid.

Nocos was detained by the PNP authorities of Loon, Bohol, following the murder of a victim on April 3, 2024.

However, his arrest did not take place until April 16, some thirteen days later.

The inquest prosecutor, tasked with conducting an informal and summary investigation, found that the arrest did not comply with the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure. According to these rules, and as upheld by the Supreme Court, an arrest must immediately follow the commission of the offense.

As a result of these findings, Nocos cannot be subjected to an inquest proceeding. Unless he is being held for another legal cause, he is to be immediately released from detention. At present, he cannot be charged in court without a preliminary investigation being conducted.

However, this does not mean the complaint against Nocos has been dismissed. The evidence against him is deemed significant enough to warrant a regular preliminary investigation. The complaint filed against him will therefore be treated as filed for a regular preliminary investigation, rather than an inquest.

A copy of this order has been served to the police officer in custody of Nocos, and Nocos himself has been served with a subpoena, along with copies of the complaint, affidavits, sworn statements, and other supporting evidence.

This order was issued on April 17, 2024, in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Denter A. Bernales, and approved by Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Eric M. Ucat.

TIGPANALIPUD SPEAKS

Atty. Jordan M. Pizarras, who had previously offered a reward of P50,000 for information leading to Roselyn’s whereabouts, expressed his condolences to the grieving family.

“We grieve with her husband Louie, her daughters, her sisters, father, and the rest of her family,” he said.

With the search concluded, Atty. Pizarras emphasized that the focus must now shift to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“Justice must be served for the victim and her loved ones,” he stated.

Atty. Pizarras called on the Boholano community to unite and work together to gather the necessary evidence to prosecute those responsible for this heinous crime.

“Let’s not rest until justice is accomplished,” he urged.

He also addressed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other police agencies involved in the investigation and filing of the case.

He reported that the NBI had requested the family’s presence at their office, a demand he deemed unreasonable given the family’s current circumstances.

“The family of Roselyn just suffered a very traumatic event. They need time to rest and recover from this loss of a loved one. They also have no transportation. They have no car. They have no financial means to travel. Let’s give them a break,” he appealed.

Atty. Pizarras suggested that if the NBI requires the family’s signature for any document, they should go to the family’s house to obtain it. He confirmed that the family is fully cooperating with the investigation.

He concluded by reminding the NBI and other police agencies that the filing of the case can be done by them, either jointly or singly, on behalf of the People of the Philippines, the officially aggrieved party.

Pizarras expressed his gratitude to all those who have shown support during this difficult time.

He continues to stand with the family of Roselyn, advocating for justice and urging the community to do the same, media reports said.