Suspect in slay of Ilocos mayor falls

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – A suspect in the killing of a mayor and councilor of Ilocos Norte in 2007 was arrested on Thursday.

Emerson Agpalo, 35, a resident of Roxas, Isabela, was collared at a house in Quezon City, Bacarra police chief Senior Inspector Jephre Taccad said yesterday.

Agpalo reportedly engaged the services of Bacarra Mayor Philip Velasco’s assassin. Velasco and  Councilor Marcelo Andaya were shot dead during a farmers’ festival. Velasco’s bodyguards killed the gunman during the attack.

Politics was eyed as the motive for the killing, but investigators said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the arrested suspects.