2 suspects in Taal, Batangas barangay captain’s killing arrested — PNP

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged accomplices of the motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot and killed an incumbent village chief in Taal, Batangas, have been arrested, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

PNP spokesperson and Public Information Office chief Col. Jean Fajardo said that Batangas Provincial Police Office (PPO) personnel immediately conducted a follow-up on the same day and were able to track the whereabouts of the suspects’ motorcycle and the two suspected accomplices. 

“Nakita po nila (police) sa CCTV at nasundan kung saan nagpunta yung motor na sinakyan ng dalawang suspect. Pagkascan po nila at pagsunod sa mga CCTV footage nakarating po sila sa isang lugar kung saan nakita pong pumasok yung motor,” Fajardo told reporters on Wednesday. 

(The police saw them on CCTV and tracked hem down. After they scanned and followed a series of CCTV footage, they arrived at a place where the motorcycle was seen.)

Fajardo opted not to share the suspects’ identities so as not to preempt the police force’s ongoing investigation but revealed that the incident was added to the suspected cases of election-related violence, bringing the total number of cases from seven to eight.

Last September 5, Barangay Poblacion Zone 10 Chairman Erasmo Hernandez, 59, who was seeking reelection, was shot and killed in front of the barangay office.

gsg