Task force to probe Caloocan village chief’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — Police created yesterday a task force that would investigate all possible motives, including illegal drugs, for the killing of a barangay captain and an ally of Mayor Oscar Malapitan in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City on Saturday night.

City police chief Col. Dario Menor said he formed a special investigation task force to look for possible witnesses who could give information about the murder of Barangay 15 chairman Douglas Dilao.

Initial police investigation showed that Dilao and his partner, Joanne, were on their way back to the barangay hall after attending a birthday party when five men on separate motorcycles arrived and fired at him along Progreso street.

The woman was unhurt in the attack.

Bystanders told probers that the assailants, who wore face masks, fled after making sure that Dilao was dead.

Dilao, a long-time ally of Malapitan, was declared dead on arrival in the hospital from multiple gunshots to the body.

Malapitan has offered a reward of P250,000 for any information that could help police solve the crime.

Police said the closed-circuit television installed in the area was not working at the time of the attack.

High-value drug target?

Dilao’s murder could be connected to the illegal drug trade in Bagong Barrio, according to a police official who asked not be named.

The police official, who was formerly assigned in Caloocan and had been involved in drug stings after President Duterte assumed office in 2016, said there were reports that Dilao has been allegedly protecting drug suspects in his jurisdiction, particularly his relatives.

Police said a grandson of Dilao was previously arrested on drug charges.

Probers said a nephew of the barangay official was also nabbed in 2017 for alleged involvement in drugs.

“But we cannot make any conclusion until such time that we have gathered enough evidence. We cannot speculate that the killing was drug-related until were have concluded the probe,” Menor said.