Suspect in Judge Rosales’ slay arrested?

Joint elements of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task force and the Anti-Crime Task Force arrested a kidnap-slay suspect also believed to be behind the killing of Tanauan City Judge Voltaire Rosales last month in Batangas.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes said the suspect, identified as Macario Galicia, alias Mike, was arrested at his residence on Saturday in Barangay Pantay Matanda, Tanauan, Batangas for his participation in the kidnap-slay of Gregorio Lanting on Sept. 2, 2002.

We have intelligence reports that he is considered one of the suspects in the slaying of the Judge," Reyes said. "But as I said, that is intelligence reports and we have to confirm that with other collaborative reports."

Reyes said Galicia, along with Armando Lucido, Aldrin Galicia and a certain Vidal were charged for kidnapping at the Tanauan Municipal Trial court and for murder at the Branch 83 of the regional trial court in Tanauan. All accused were residents of Barangay Pantay Matanda.

Recovered from Galicia during the arrest were an M653 Baby Armalite, a magazine with 15 rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia and personal belongings.

Based on records at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Galicia was also charged for trespassing and malicious mischief and has two pending cases of arson at RTC Branch 43 of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.