Ex-cop person of interest in village chief’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — Police have two persons of interest including a former policeman in the murder of a barangay captain in Sto. Tomas, Batangas on Thursday.

Sto. Tomas City Mayor Arth Marasigan has offered P200,000 in exchange for information leading to the arrest of the killers of Dennis Austria of Barangay Sta. Anastacia.

Reports said the former policeman holds a grudge against Austria over a land dispute.

Austria had reportedly filed a complaint of grave threats against the former policeman.

The victim was cleaning his property at the My Homes Subdivision when two men barged in and shot him multiple times.

Marasigan condemned the incident and vowed to help deliver justice to Austria’s family.

Austria’s wife expressed belief that the killing was politically motivated.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has a formed a task group to dig deeper into the case.

PNP spokesman Col. Alen Rae Co said probers have obtained leads in the case, but declined to provide details so as not to jeopardize police operations.

The task group will identify and pursue suspects as well as determine the motive for the killing.

The task group has yet to finish reviewing footage of closed-circuit television cameras installed near the crime scene and along the escape route of the assailants.