BATANGAS CITY – Two suspects in the killing of a reelectionist barangay chairman in Taal, Batangas were arrested in a follow-up operation hours after the incident on Tuesday, September 5.
The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) headed by Batangas police director Police Col. Samson Belmonte reported the arrest of the suspects during a case conference in Camp Gen. Miguel Malvar here on Thursday, September 7.
The suspects who reportedly aided the gunman and his back rider by hiding their motorcycle and disposing of their helmets and clothes were arrested at 2:30 p.m. in Barangay Halang.
The victim, Erasmo Hernandez, chairman of Barangay Poblacion Zone 10 in Taal, was shot dead at around 7:20 a.m. in front of the barangay hall.
Murder and obstruction of justice charges have been filed against the suspects before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor here.
Belmonte said they will try their best to solve the case and bring justice to the victim’s family.
“The murder of Hernandez is very unfortunate but we will exert our best efforts in solving this crime to bring justice to the family of the bereaved. We will strengthen our anti-criminality campaign even further to avoid this kind of incident in the future, " Belmonte said.