Las Piñas tanods suspects in creek slay

A dead body was found in a creek at Las Piñas City on 26 December.

The Las Piñas City Police identified the victim as Gerico Rocabo, 24 years old, found along C5 Creek, Barangay Manuyo Uno, at 11:50 a.m.

According to the report, barangay tanod Edwin Miranda was on his duty at 2 a.m., when he heard the voice of barangay
ex-official Jaime Forteo Gutierrez over a two-way radio saying that a thief, referring to Rocabo, had been apprehended.

A witness said that about 2 a.m., he passed by the Barangay hall and observed the victim riding the Barangay Hall's tricycle, accompanied by barangay tanods, with handcuffs on both hands. The witness did not pay much attention, assuming the victim was just arrested.

The Las Piñas Police conducted a follow-up operation led by Police Senior Master Sergeant Glen Acaba, Police Master Sergeant Marsito Torreon and Police Corporal Mark Edwin Orongan to arrest the alleged suspects.

The police identified the alleged suspects as Barangay Tanods Jason Santos and Joseph Clarion. They were presented to the witness, who pointed to them as Rocabo's last companions prior his death.

According to PSMS Glen Acaba, the suspects claimed that Rocabo escaped on the 24th of December when they arrested him.

"Based on our investigation, the suspects are claiming that they have first arrested Rocabo, but he managed to escape before Christmas," Acaba said.

Based on the initial findings from the Medico-Legal, Rocabo's cause of death is Asphyxia (by strangulation) which aligns with the physical evidence — a ligature mark found on his neck.

Santos and Clarion are currently detained at Las Piñas City Police Station SIDMS Office.