Probers eye link between murders of broker, LRA official

MANILA, Philippines - Two of four men arrested for killing a Land Registration Authority official were identified by a witness as the same men who killed a real estate broker in Parañaque City, officials said yesterday.

Julius Capongol and Arwin Bio were arrested in connection with the attack on Nasugbu, Batangas registry of deeds chief Reynaldo Aquino, who was in his pickup truck when he was shot by at least four motorcycle-riding men along General Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay Maharlika East in Tagaytay at around 4 p.m. on June 4, Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona said.

A witness identified Capongol as the gunman and Bio as the lookout during the attack on real estate broker Josephine Sarmiento, who was shot dead by one of two men seated at a table near her as she was in a restaurant along President Avenue in BF Homes, Parañaque on May 20, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Andrei Felix.

“We’re looking at the possible link (between) the two murders,” Estipona said.

Felix said investigators have filed murder charges against the two suspects before the Parañaque prosecutor’s office yesterday afternoon.