Police arrest suspects in killing of QC barangay chair

Acting Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Guillermo Eleazar, and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. face media on Sunday (February 3, 2019) as they present the suspects and pieces of evidence in the killing of Barangay Bagong Silangan chair Crisell Beltran. All photos by Christia Ramos/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested the four suspects and five accomplices tagged in the killing of a barangay chairwoman in Quezon City.

QCPD Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. on Sunday identified the suspects as Teofilo Formanes, 48; brothers Ruel Juab, 38; Orlando Juab, 32; and  Joppy Juab, 28.

According to Esquivel, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) first arrested Formanes in a follow-up operation early Friday (February 1) at the back of the Commonwealth Market.

Police said that the arrest of Formanes stemmed from a tip of an eye witness who identified the latter from a gallery of rogues that closely resembled the suspect’s composite illustration.

READ: Cops release sketch of suspect in Quezon City village chair’s murder

Operatives arrived at the said market and spotted the suspect about to board his motorcycle. A handgun was also visibly tucked in Formanes’ waist, police noted.

A caliber .9mm pistol loaded with nine live ammunition, a black Yamaha Mio Sporty motorcycle without a plate number, two baseball caps, a cellular phone, and three handheld radios were seized from Formanes.

Formanes then identified to police his cohorts in the killing which led to the arrest of the Juab brothers.

Operatives then conducted a follow-up operation  along Steve St., Brgy. Commonwealth to apprehend the three, who first resisted arrest and physically attacked the police officers until they were subdued.

Police apprehended the brothers and seized from them a caliber .9mm pistol loaded with 12 live ammunition, a homemade caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition, a hand grenade, a Magnum caliber .22 revolver and four cellular phones.

Meanwhile, authorities also arrested Miguel Juab, 26; Mangmang Rasia, 26; and Boy Fernandez, 52, for obstruction of justice for preventing the police to arrest the three Juab brothers.

Formanes further told operatives that a certain Cosette Capistrano, 50, kept the firearm of another suspect, Warren Juab.

Capistrano, the cousin of Warren, led the operatives in a residential building along Republic Avenue, Brgy. Holy Spirit for the arrest of Juab but shouted and warned the latter who escaped along with another suspect identified as Dutch Boy Bello, 34.

Police said that Capistrano was also arrested for obstruction of justice along with the wife of Warren, Angelie Juab, who also helped the two escape.

Twenty-three pieces of of ammunition for caliber .45 and a cellular phone were confiscated from Angelie, authorities added.

An inquest at the City Prosecutor’s Office for cases of murder; frustrated murder in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; attempted murder; and illegal possession of firearms in relation to the Omnibus Election Code were referred by the QCPD against Formanes, Ruel, Orlando, and Joppy Juab.

Meanwhile, Ruel and Joppy will also face charges of unlawful possession of explosives, direct assault, resistance and disobedience to an agent of person in authority.

Last January 30, 2019, Beltran and her driver, Melchor Salita, were killed after motorcycle-riding gunmen intercepted their SUV and shot them to death.

Beltran was seeking a congressional seat on the upcoming May elections.

READ: QC barangay chairwoman killed by motorcyle-riding gunmen

A 14-year-old male companion was also wounded in the attack. /je

READ: Cops release sketch of suspect in Quezon City village chair’s murder

Photo by Christia Ramos/INQUIRER.net

Mugshot of one of the suspects in the killing of Barangay Bagong Silangan chairwoman Crisell Beltran.

Other suspects in the assassination of Barangay Bagong Silangan chairwoman Crisell Beltran.

Police arrest four suspects in the killing of a barangay chairwoman in Quezon City.

Police also arrest five cohorts in the killing of the barangay chair.

Two suspects in the assassination of the barangay chair remain at large.