THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Thursday denied reports that one of the suspects in the killing of Keith Absalon and his cousin in Masbate is a teacher.

Reports said that Mariel Suson is a public school teacher assigned in Masbate.

Suson, 22, was tagged as one of the suspects in the killing of Absalon, former football player of the Far Eastern University, and his cousin Nolven Absalon last June 6.

“This office wants to clarify that the person arrested is an applicant for a teaching position in our division and was able to submit the required application documents. However, she was not yet able to pass our hiring process and thus she is not actually a teacher of our Division nor a DepEd employee,” the DepEd office in Masbate said.

“Meron siyang dalawang kapatid na teachers but the person involved sa case, she’s not teaching,” Mayflor Marie Jumamil, DepEd spokesperson, said.

Police Major Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson of Police Regional 5, said that Suson was arrested on June 22 in Purok 4, Barangay Anas by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Arnelo Mesa of the Masbate City Regional Trial Court last June 18.

Suson was detained at the Masbate City police station.