2 suspects in barangay official’s slay arrested

MANILA, Philippines - A follow-up operation on the killing of a barangay official in Valenzuela City led to the arrest of two suspected members of a carjacking group Tuesday night.

Police said Arturo Afable and John Mark Hernandez of the “Afable carnap gang” were apprehended in Libtong, Meycauayan, Bulacan.

The two were  tagged in the killing of 60-year-old Mario Lucero, deputy executive officer of Barangay Veinte Reales.

Lucero and village watchmen responded to a call of businessman Jesus Baria that two suspicious-looking men were circling his establishment along De Zafra street at around 2:30 p.m., Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said.

Lucero and his companions were approaching the suspects when they pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times.

Afable and Hernandez commandeered the motorcycle of Noel Dodolia and escaped, leaving their motorcycle at the crime scene.

Lucero suffered six gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Valenzuela Medical Center.

Police said footage from a closed-circuit television  camera showed that the suspects were the ones who killed Lucero.