SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union , Philippines – Four suspects in the murder of Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez in this city have been charged with murder.
Police said two of those charged before the city prosecutor’s office on Wednesday were the alleged mastermind, Napoleon Taliño, a resident of Becques, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, and the alleged gunman, Vladimir Arcain of Bahay Turo, Quezon City.
Col. Jay Cumigad, La Union police director and head of the task force created to probe the killing, said one of the two other suspects who have yet to be identified is a woman.
He said the suspects were caught on surveillance cameras at the crime scene in Barangay Mameltca.
Probers said the motive for the killing could be work-related.
Bañez, 54, was former acting judge of the 13th Municipal Trial Court and 12th MTC in Alilem-Sugpon and Tagudin-Suyo, respectively, both in Ilocos Sur.
The judge was driving home in his Hyundai Accent when he was shot several times.