On-cam gunman, 4 others charged with councilman's murder

MANILA, Philippines – At least five suspects in the New Year’s Day killing of a barangay councilman in Caloocan were charged yesterday with murder before the city pro-secutor’s office.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police intelligence and investigation chief, said Michael Rullon, 27; Frederick Sales, 29; Rommel Oliva; Francis Bronjal and Arnel Buenaflor were charged before the office of Caloocan City assistant city prosecutor Darwin Canete, “all with no bail.”

The accused are the prime suspects in the killing of Reynaldo Dagsa, 38, councilman of Barangay 35 in Maypajo, Caloocan City on Jan. 1.

Dagsa was taking photos of his family in front of their house as they welcomed the New Year when he was shot dead. When the photos were developed, one of them showed Buenaflor pointing a gun at the councilman.

The two other accused, Rullon and Sales, who reportedly served as lookouts, also appeared in the picture taken by the victim. The two were arrested while Buenaflor, the alleged gunman, and the two other suspects – Bronjal and Oliva – escaped and remain at large.

“We are now on the way to the province where the three remaining suspects, particularly Buenaflor, tagged as the gunman, were reportedly seen,” Soriano said yesterday.

According to Canete, apart from the picture, several eyewitnesses saw the five suspects near the house of the councilman before he was gunned down.

“Dagsa and the suspects had a previous run-in – the victim was a witness in a recent case involving all the five suspects,” Canete told The STAR.

He said the five suspects have a pending frustrated homicide case before his office.