Village chief’s assassination suspects identified

Authorities have arrested one of six suspects allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a village captain in Santo Tomas City, Batangas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Wednesday.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. identified the arrested suspect as Michael Ben Calalo, the alleged motorcycle driver who helped the gunman escape after shooting Barangay Sta. Anastacia chairperson Dennis Austria outside his residence in My Homes Subdivision around 6:20 a.m. on 15 October.

“We welcome this development as a significant step toward justice for barangay captain Dennis Austria and his family. We will not stop at identifying those who carried out the crime. We will pursue those who allegedly planned, financed, and facilitated it,” Nartatez said.

Nartatez cited the operation aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to pursue criminal offenders through evidence-based law enforcement.

Investigators identified the alleged gunman as Calalo’s cousin, a 45-year-old construction worker from San Jose, Batangas.