The Rodriguez Police Station has filed a murder charge against a 33-year-old businessman who hacked to death a former journalist-turned-barangay tanod in Rodriguez, Rizal on July 23.

Lt. Col. Paul Sabulao, chief of the Rodriguez Police Station, told Manila Bulletin that the suspect, Victor Enavia, was formally charged on Thursday following his swift arrest.

Sabulao said former journalist Norberto "Bert"Javier, 68, a barangay tanod of Sitio Wawa in Barangay San Rafael at the time of his death, was brutally attacked by the suspect with a bolo.

A video showing the gruesome murder was found by police on the mobile phone reportedly owned by the suspect’s live-in partner.

The bolo was also later recovered at the crime scene.

The suspect was arrested shortly after a witness sought police assistance.

Sabulao said Javier sustained at least six hack wounds in the neck.

Police said Enavia claimed that the victim allegedly badmouthed the suspect's relative and had harassed his daughter prior to the killing.

However, Sabulao cast doubt on the motive, pointing out that the video showed Javier appearing motionless and apparently asleep due to intoxication while the suspect adjusted the mobile phone's angle before launching the attack.

The police also dismissed earlier reports suggesting that the victim and suspect were drinking buddies.

Barangay San Rafael Chairwoman Judith Cruz, in a post on her social media page, appealed to netizens to refrain from sharing the sensitive video of the murder, out of respect respect for the victim’s grieving family and friends.

Police said the suspect denied uploading the video, which came from the mobile phone of the killer's live-in partner.

Cruz, who, along with her worker in the barangay office, visited the wake of Javier in Barangay Burgos on July 24, said she has been receiving messages about their concern on the possible effect of watching the video of the grim incident on minors.

“Sana po itinigil na po natin ang pag spread nito. Nananawagan po ako kung ano pong tamang ahensya na pwedeng umawat o mag-delete ng mga videong ito para po matugunan natin ang concern ng mga magulang at ng iba pong masyadong natatakot na mapanood po ng mga kabataan ang ganito pong hindi kanais-nais na pangyayari sa krimen na ito. Pakiusap po, i-delete at huwag po nating i-share ang napakatinding pagpatay sa aming tanod (I hope that we stop the spread of this (video). I am calling on the appropriate agency that can intervene or delete these videos so that we can address the concerns of parents and others about the effect of the video on the young ones who may have watched this gruesome crime. Please, delete and do not share the video of the brutal murder of our watchman),” Cruz said on her video message posted on her Facebook page.

Maricor Pablo, a co-worker of the victim in the barangay, told Manila Bulletin that the slain barangay tanod is set to be cremated and brought to his parents' home in Laguna. His remains lie at a funeral parlor at Barangay Burgos in Rodriguez.

Pablo said Javier, whom she addressed as Tatay Bert, was a kindhearted man to his fellow barangay watchmen.

Sabulao said a child of Javier was informed about his death and was the one who received the cadaver of the victim. 

This reporter, who was able to have a brief acquaintance with Javier during his pre-retirement years as a police beat reporter in the Southern Metro Manila, had known him as a quiet but sometimes jolly person.