8 charged for murder of Batangas village chief

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines — Murder charges have been filed against eight suspects tagged in the murder of a barangay chairman in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

The charges were filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Sto. Tomas on Wednesday afternoon.

Of the eight suspects, only Michael Ben Calalo, 30, was arrested. The rest including two businessmen, two drivers, a former politician, a barangay kagawad and the gunman remain at large.

Calalo allegedly helped the gunman, who was reportedly his cousin, escape after killing Dennis Austria in Barangay Anastacia on Oct. 15.

Calalo and the assailant sped away on a motorcycle before transferring to a Toyota Vios.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday at his alleged hideout in Barangay Balagtasin in the nearby town of San Jose.

Police said the arresting team recovered the Vios, which was reportedly registered under the name of Calalo.

Video footage of a closed-circuit television camera showed Calalo and the gunman transferring from a motorcycle to the Vios.

Calabarzon police deputy chief Col. Mario Mayames Jr. said Calalo signed an extra-judicial confession, admitting his participation in the crime.

The mastermind of the murder reportedly promised the gunman P250,000.

With the filing of the charges, Mayames said the Austria murder case is considered solved.

Col. Oliver Ebora, Batangas police director, urged anyone with information about the case to coordinate with the police, to help strengthen the charges and ensure conviction of those responsible.