Talisay City, Cebu – A 15-year-old boy Wednesday surrendered to the police and admitted participation in the killing of a Catholic priest Monday night, paving the way for the arrest of two more suspects, including the alleged gunman.

Dodong (real name withheld due to his age) was brought to the Talisay City Police Office by relatives Wednesday morning and admitted that he acted as lookout when three of his friends robbed and shot Fr. Jovencio Rabusa, 46.

He named the other suspects, all residents of Barangay Cansujong in Talisay, resulting to the arrest of the alleged gunman, Russel Rabanes, 28.

Before Dodong’s surrender, police arrested another young suspect, GerardTradio, 18. The fourth suspect, identified only as “Tungloy,” remains at large.

Talisay City Police Chief Henry Biñas said Tradio admitted that he helped Ravanes and Tungloy sell the two cellular phones stolen from Fr. Rabusa, whom they robbed and shot thrice Monday night in a dimly lit road of the South Road Properties.

The names of the suspects surfaced during initial police investigation. When Tradio was arrested at 6 a.m. Wednesday, he squealed on his cohorts.

Biñas said the police are preparing charges of robbery with homicide against the suspects.

The Archdiocese of Cebu welcomed the development but urged the police to make sure that justice will be given to Fr. Rabusa. Archdiocesan Media Liaison Officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay said Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was happy to learn that the police have arrested the suspects.

Fr. Rabusa was walking at the South Road Properties in Barangay Cansojong past 8 p.m. on Monday when he was blocked by the suspects, then shot him thrice when he refused to hand over his two old mobile phones.

Rabusa died at the Talisay City District Hospital due to wounds below his nape, butt, and arm. The robbers did not take his wallet and wristwatch.

Cardinal Vidal earlier condemned the killing of Fr. Rabusa and mandated churches in Cebu for an “Act of Reparation” aside from prayers that each parish was ordered to offer for the murder of Rabusa.

Dakay said the Catholic community has tagged Rabusa’s killing as desecration or extreme disrespect committed against the church.

In the act of reparation, parishes especially those in which Rabusa served — Bantayan, Guadalupe, Buanoy in Balamban, Santander and Naga — must submit to acts of repentance and prayers for forgiveness.

“We’ll pray for them for repentance on what they have done and for forgiveness from the Lord,” Dakay said, referring to the suspects.

He clarified that the incident will not stop them from wearing civilian clothes while outside the parish and from having cellular phones. Dakay said the church does not believe comments that a priest in his clerical garments would never meet such unfortunate incident.