CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – A suspect in the murder of a barangay captain in Sto. Tomas, Batangas was arrested in San Jose town on Tuesday night.
The suspect, identified as Michael Ben Calalo, 30, was among six people tagged by police in the murder of Dennis Austria of Barangay Anastacia on Oct. 15.
Citing investigation by the Batangas police, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Calalo is a cousin of the gunman, a 45-year-old construction worker from San Jose.
Calalo reportedly helped the gunman escape. He was identified through video footage from a closed-circuit television camera, which showed his face and the license plate of a motorcycle that he and the gunman used in fleeing from the crime scene.
A Toyota Vios was recovered from Calalo’s possession during a police operation at his alleged hideout in Barangay Balagtasin.
Police said criminal charges would be filed today against the suspect before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.
Aside from Calalo and the gunman, police have identified four other suspects including two alleged masterminds – a businessman who lost in the 2023 barangay election and the businessman’s uncle.
The businessman reportedly financed Austria’s assassination while his uncle hired people to carry out the killing.
The remaining suspects include an employee of a towing services company who transported the assailant and the motorcycle to the subdivision where Austria lives, and a barangay kagawad tasked to monitor the victim’s movements.
Austria was cleaning his property at the My Home Subdivision when two men barged in and shot him multiple times.