By Mar T. Supnad
LAOAG CITY- Ilocos Norte police reported Thursday they arrested three suspected gunmen who shot and killed a village chief in Sarrat town in the province Tuesday with the capture of the suspects shortly after the incident.
This, as Sarrat Mayor Edito Balintona was set to be investigated in relation to the killing as the vehicle used in the killing was traced in his residence.
Francis Cariño, incumbent and re-electionist chairman of Barangay 2, San Agustin in Sarrat, was shot to death around 8:50 p.m. on Oct 19 while having a drinking spree with several companions in the house of a friend in said barangay.
Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, Ilocos Norte police director, identified the main suspect as a certain Lordelito Torda who was with two cohorts, namely; Richard Borjal and Riccel Sison, during the incident.
The three arrived at the scene aboard an Izusu Trooper license plate WLX-984 and fled after the shooting using the same vehicle.
Hot pursuit operation launched by the Ilocos Norte police resulted in the immediate arrest of Sison at his residence in Barangay No. 7, also of Sarrat at about 10 p.m. the same night.
Chan subsequently created Special Investigation Task Group “Cariño” to probe the killing.
Police investigators recovered from the crime scene four spent shells for Cal.45 pistol and four slugs.
SITG Cariño was able to trace the Izusu vehicle at the residence of Mayor and has taken custody of said vehicle.
Follow-up operations conducted jointly by SITG Cariño and elements of Ilocos Sur police resulted in the surrender of Borjal at about 11:20 a.m. in Sinait town, and the arrest of Torda at about 1:30 p.m. in San Vicente town, both in Ilocos Sur Oct. 21.
The three suspects are now in the custody of the Sarrat Municipal Police Station.
In Camp Florendo, regional police headquarters based in San Fernando City, La Union, Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, Ilocos Norte police director, said the perpetrators were said to be bodyguards of the mayorl.
Carino was rushed to the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City but was declared dead on arrival.
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