Barangay chief, 5 tanods held for Caloocan slays

A barangay chairman of Valenzuela City and five of his watchmen were arrested by Caloocan police after a van and two other vehicles used in Sunday’s summary execution of six stay-in workers of a Bulacan recycling firm were traced to them yesterday.

Held for questioning in their own barangay hall were barangay chairman Graciano Victoriano, local chief of Barangay Bignay in Valenzuela City, his barangay watchmen Fernando Naval, Alejandro Galupo, Roselio Flor and Richard Flor and Mark Anthony Estrella, a tricycle driver.

Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton, Caloocan Police deputy chief and Station Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (SIDMB) chief, said a barangay patrol van, a galvanized Asian utility vehicle (AUV) with red plate UAU-951 and marked "Bignay Barangay Council Valenzuela City," a blue tricycle (UW-9998) and a red Kawasaki motorcycle (CA-7604), all vehicles allegedly used in the killing were found in Bignay and positively identified by witnesses.

Also seized were a shotgun and one caliber .38 revolver.

Members of the arresting team said they found the barangay hall padlocked and deserted during office hours when they arrived at around noon yesterday.

Witnesses told probers there were still some women spotted inside the barangay hall before authorities arrived. Sensing their arrival, the women reportedly padlocked the office and left.

A SWAT team had to kick down the door while other officers gained entry through the ceiling.

The suspects have been taken to the Caloocan City police headquarters and held for further questioning even as follow-up operations for the arrest of more suspects involved in the multiple murder are underway.

Last Sunday, six bodies riddled with bullets were found on the main road of Phase 3, Nova Romania Subdivision in Deparo, Caloocan City.

Police later found out the victims were factory workers of a neighboring town of Mecauayan. Cops recovered from the crime scene 26 shells from an M-16 rifle and five from a 9mm pistol.

Witnesses told the cops that a galvanized AUV was seen in the area at around 2:30 a.m.

Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Northern Police District chief, who arrived at the barangay hall at 2 p.m., promised to leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are caught.

"We assure the families that we will see this to the end, until justice is served," Bataoil said.