MANILA, Philippines - Police have captured an outgoing village chief in Capiz who killed three of his siblings due to a family feud that turned into a bitter political rivalry.
This after Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas ordered an intensive manhunt for all those responsible in violent incidents that were recorded during the October 28 barangay elections.
The Philippine National Police reported to Roxas that Manuel Arcenas Sr., 62, outgoing captain of Barangay Manapao, Pontevedra towb in Capiz, was taken into custody past noon last October 30.
Arcenas is now detained at the PNP Regional Headquarters at Camp Delgado.
Police said Manuel shot dead his brother Ramon, 54; sisters Jennifer Arcenas-Nuyles, 57; and Evelyn Arcenas-Espinar, 58 last Tuesday, a day after the winners of the barangay election were announced.
Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., director of PNP Regional Office 6, said the elder Arcenas went into a shooting rampage after learning that his daughter Isabel, who was being groomed as his successor, lost to his younger brother Ramon in the recently concluded barangay elections.
Isabel’s younger brother, Manuel Jr., also lost in his bid for a council post in their village.
A day after Ramon was proclaimed winner as barangay chairman, the elder Manuel went to his siblings' house in Barangay Manapao and killed them with a .30 Carbine rifle.
Police immediately conducted hot pursuit operations against the suspect, who was later traced to be hiding in La Paz, Iloilo.