Cops still clueless on killers of Caloocan councilor

Police investigators are still facing a blank wall as to who were responsible for the ambush of a Caloocan City councilor and his police aide in Barangay Dulong Bayan in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan on Saturday.

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, intelligence and investigation chief of the Bulacan police said the San Jose del Monte City police is still conducting investigation as to the identities of the gunmen and the possible motive of the killing of Councilor Rogelio Saraza and his police aide, Inspector Domingo Villavicencio.

But he said investigators are looking into a possible personal grudge against the victim by the killers. Residents and local officials of the said barangay, however, said that Saraza has no known enemies in their place.

Police are also mulling over the possibility that failure to pay revolutionary taxes to the New People’s Army (NPA) could have been the reason for the murder. But in an interview with The STAR, Saraza’s son, Ronnie, 36, said that it could not have been the NPA since his father had an "excellent relationship" with the insurgents in the area. He also downplayed politics as the motive for the killing.

Saraza, 58, who is also the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Caloocan, and Villavicencio were on their way to Saraza’s farm in Sitio Linawan when they were waylaid by five unidentified gunmen. Both died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds. The suspects fled on board a tricycle and sped towards Sta. Maria town.

A special task force was created to identify and track down the suspects.

Meanwhile, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri has sent his condolences to the victims’ families. "In behalf of the people of Caloocan City, particularly Councilor Saraza’s constituents in Barangay 72, I want justice to be served. The perpetrators, including the mastermind, should pay for this crime," Echiverri said.

The mayor also appealed to witnesses to surface and cooperate with the police for the early solution of the case. – James Mananghaya, Pete Laude and Jerry Botial