Caloocan’s most wanted falls

A former barangay chairman of Valenzuela City, wanted for allegedly murdering six workers in Caloocan City in 2006, was arrested over the weekend in La Union.

Graciano Victoriano, former chairman of Barangay Bignay and Caloocan’s most wanted fugitive for the past two years, was presented to the media yesterday at the office of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri by city police chief Superintendent William Macavinta, Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, and Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias.

He was arrested at a beach in Barangay Damortis, Rosario, La Union by a team of police officers from Caloocan City and local lawmen led by Chief Inspector Godfrey Buslotan.

Victoriano’s arrest came on the strength of a warrant for multiple murder issued by Caloocan RTC Branch 129 Judge Thelma Trinidad Pe-Aguirre on Jan. 22, 2007.

Barangay watchmen Ricky Flor and Santiago Lumabao were charged as principal suspects along with Victoriano, while Fernando Estrella, Romeo Pacheco, Francisco Bernal, Danilo Campos, Rodel Macabuhay and Ariston Euraba were tagged as accomplices.

Of the nine suspects, only Victoriano has been arrested.

“I did not go into hiding. I just took a vacation. I will face this problem because you cannot hide from the law. I’m here to clear my name,” he said when asked to comment on his arrest.

Macavinta said he ordered surveillance on Victoriano at the beach house in February following orders from Barias, who said there were “outside pressures” for the police to go easy on the suspect. The lawmen failed to spot the suspect but left a copy of the warrant and a photo of Victoriano.

Victoriano is the prime suspect in the killing of Ramon Villanueva, Judril Meguizo, Arthur Cardona, Jefferson Agipanan, Alfredo Asuero, and Remy Amaro on Oct. 1, 2006.

According to court records, the victims, all laborers of Ken Dragon Manufacturing Corp., a lead smelting plant in Meycauayan, Bulacan, were apprehended by Barangay Bignay watchmen for reportedly creating trouble at a tricycle terminal in the area.

They were brought to the barangay hall for interrogation when four of them were found carrying knives. They were later found dead, their bodies riddled with bullets, at the Nova-Romania subdivision in Barangay 168.

Barely four days after the killings, Victoriano, Flor and Lumabao were arrested and charged with multiple murder.

While awaiting trial, the victims’ relatives withdrew the case filed before Branch 128 Judge Eleanor Kwong. The police, however, filed a motion to have the case re-opened despite “pressure” from Victoriano’s political allies, according to Barias.   – With Non Alquitran