Village chief faces raps for taking loot in rob-slay

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman and several watchmen will be charged for allegedly taking items stolen from a bank executive who was stabbed dead in Sta. Cruz, Manila Monday, police said yesterday.

Nestor Delizalde Jr. – who confessed to killing and robbing Evelyn Tan, assistant vice president of the loans department of Banco de Oro in Makati –  said Barangay 221 chairman Arturo Ignacio and his barangay tanods took a large part of the loot when they arrested him.

Senior Superintendent Robert Po, Manila Police District (MPD) deputy director for operations, said they will file the necessary charges against Ignacio and his watchmen.

Delizalde said he took 19,000 yuan, P22,000, a digital camera and three cellular phones after stabbing Tan; her 75-year-old mother, Teresa, and their 22-year-old maid, Kristina Bartolay.

MPD homicide section head Chief Inspector Joey de Ocampo said they only recovered two cellular phones, P2,000 cash and 2,500 yuan.

Mayor Alfredo Lim, meanwhile, urged barangay chairmen in Manila to make sure that they do enough background check on their barangay watchmen.

Delizalde said he was taken as watchman in Barangay 225 right after he was released from prison in 2008. He has been charged with homicide, robbery, car theft and illegal drug possession.

He said his barangay chairman knew about his cases but took him in anyway.