6 Batangas lawmen charged for pal's death

BATANGAS, Philippines – Six policemen have been formally charged with murder for gunning down a fellow policeman in San Juan town last April 1.

Detained at the provincial jail are SPO2 Ruel Chavez Dimaano, SPO1 Eddie Bautista, PO2 Rolando Rallos, PO2 Edwin Morete, PO1 John James Fajutag, and PO1 Robert Balita, all assigned to the mobile division of the San Juan police.

Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director, said the six policemen were tagged as the alleged assailant of SPO1 Alejandro Samarita, 47, a resident of Barangay Laiya-Ibabaw, San Juan town.

Supapo has relieved Superintendent Jonathan Tangonan as San Juan police chief and replaced him with Superintendent Isagani Fetizanan as officer-in-charge while the investigation is ongoing.