Arrest warrants out for suspects in Caloocan killings

MANILA, Philippines - The Caloocan City police distributed yesterday copies of arrest warrants for three men suspected of killing barangay officials since last year.

The city government, aside from offering P100,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspects, has also offered another P100,000 to law enforcers who catch the alleged killers, Mayor Oscar Malapitan said yesterday.

Jervy Reyes, Bong Francisco alias Jeklat and Mark Anthony Francisco, all of Malabon City, had been wanted for murder as early as last year, Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Bernard Tambaoan said.

Tambaoan said Jeklat, whose photo appeared in The STAR yesterday, was earlier identified as Rodel Elizardo but “it was just one of his aliases.”

Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 170 Judge Zaldy Docena issued a warrant of arrest for the three men on Nov. 26, 2013 after they were tagged in the killing of a businessman.

All three suspects were also the subject of arrest warrants by another Malabon RTC branch for frustrated murder – a bailable offense.

 â€œAs we’ve earlier said, these suspects are hired gunmen who also operate in other cities,” Tambaoan said.

The mayor refused to comment on the “political angle” being pursued by investigators, but said he believes that “the intelligence reports of the police are reliable and everything is being carefully considered.”  

A source earlier said that the slain barangay officials reportedly received campaign funds but shifted allegiance days before the 2013 elections.