4 barangay tanods charged with murder

MANILA, Philippines — Four barangay tanods or peacekeepers have been charged with murder after a witness reportedly saw them with a man who was later found dead in a creek in Las Piñas City, an official said yesterday.

“We have arrested two (barangay tanods) and another two afterwards… It was very clear (that they were involved). That is why we charged them with murder, based on the positive identification of the witness,” city police chief Col. Jaime Santos said in an interview with dzBB.

“But the truth is, we are seeing many suspects involved. Aside from the four suspects arrested, there are five or six other people involved,” he added.

Santos did not identify the arrested peacekeepers.

According to the Southern Police District, the man – who was not identified in the SPD report – was found dead along C-5 Creek at past 11 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2023.

Santos said investigators obtained closed-circuit television footage that would help identify other people involved in the incident.

Police investigation also revealed that the motive for the victim’s murder was a stolen bicycle.

Santos said police will conduct a thorough investigation to identify all the people behind the killing.