Murder raps filed vs 2 suspects in town police chief's killing

Tanauan City, Batangas, Philippines – A police task group yesterday filed murder charges against two suspects in the killing of the police chief of Malvar town the other day.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Region 4 police director, said at least five witnesses identified through the police rogues’ gallery Nonilon Linga as the alleged triggerman and Roberto Asis as the driver of the getaway vehicle.

Superintendent Willy Atun, Tanauan police chief, said Senior Inspector Ramonchito Chavez could have been killed out of retaliation for serving a warrant of arrest to a wanted person in Malvar town early this year.

Atun, however, declined to name the subject of the warrant of arrest.

He quoted witnesses though as saying that the gunman was visibly angry after shooting Chavez as he even cursed at the municipal police chief before fleeing toward Talisay town on board a motorcycle.

If the triggerman were a gun-for-hire, Atun said he could have just left quietly after finishing his job.

Chavez, 39, had just brought his wife to work and his eldest daughter to school when he was attacked just a few meters away from his house at around 7:20 a.m. last Wednesday.

Atun said Chavez was returning home aboard his Toyota Corolla when he stopped in front of a tricycle terminal upon seeing a small town lottery (STL) collector.

Witnesses said Chavez was alighting from his car to place an STL bet when one of the two men wearing camouflage attire shot him.

Atun said Linga and a certain Cirilo Mantes have been tagged in the killing of Barangay Natatas chairman Sofronio Vivas in this city last April 27.

A task group composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Tanauan, Malvar and provincial police units, and the 402nd Police Mobile Group is going after the suspects.                               – With Ed Amoroso