Three of the seven suspects in the assassination of a barangay kagawad in Canumay East, Valenzuela were believed killed in a fight among themselves and other members of their group over money, have been arrested.

The Valenzuela City police identified those killed as Michael Tamayo Jr., 28, of Malabon; Ricky Barte Montemayor, 47, one of the alleged masterminds; and Jimmy Palisoc Ayad, 48.

The three were among those tagged in the fatal shooting of village official Alexander Liwanag Joseph, 49, along D. Bonifacio Street on 29 June.

The assailants fled on a black and red motorcycle, but were identified with the help of closed-circuit TV camera footage.

Tamayo was arrested in Barangay Tañong, Malabon, where the motorcycle used was recovered from him. He also made extrajudicial confessions where he implicated in the crime six others.

Others tagged in the killing of Joseph were alleged shooters Tito Santiago Salibio, 43, Carlito Mansueto Abalo, 31, of Malabon; Reyce Malicdem, 36, of Valenzuela, and an alias Abdul.

Montemayor was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation, while Ayad was arrested after being found with a .45 caliber gun and a grenade along Service Road, Canumay East.

Some of the suspects were officials of a tricycle drivers' association charged with estafa, the purported motive in the killing of the barangay official.