3 Isabela cops, 6 suspects charged for killing of village chief, kin

Automatic weapons such as these were used in killing Barangay Cañogan Abajo Sur chairman Montano Zipagan, his daughter, his niece and granddaughter in Isabela. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

SANTO TOMAS, Isabela — Three police officers and six other suspects were charged on Thursday before the Isabela prosecutor’s office, for the July 15 killing of a barangay (village) chairman and three family members.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said PO3 Rogelio Cataggatan, PO1 Claramito Bibat, and PO1 Arnie Agabin have been charged with four counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder.  Also charged for the same offenses were Nelson Laggui, Ricky Boy Bautista, Edcel Sibal, Rosito Baguno Jr., Billy Buraga and Melchor Mamauag, the CIDG said.

The policemen have been placed on restricted status at the Isabela provincial police office, pending the issuance of their arrest warrants.

The policemen were among the gunmen identified by witnesses as those who used automatic weapons in shooting and killing Cañogan Abajo Sur village chief Montano Zipagan and his kin.

The gunmen opened fire on, and killed Zipagan, his daughter Joylyn Mabbayad, his niece Jelaine Zipagan and his granddaughter Aira Shane Zipagan.

Zipagan’s wife Benita and one-year-old granddaughter, Therese Joy, were injured, but have survived the attack.

Zipagan was associated with defeated mayoral bet and Colonguan village chief Noel Reyes, who lost to Mayor Antonio Talaue in the May 9 elections.

Reyes was earlier charged for killing Talaue’s supporter John-john Laggui, the brother of suspect Nelson Laggui, who has also been charged with murder for killing Reyes’ aide Rocky Paguigan in Cullalabo village.  SFM