Caloocan village chief shot dead

A barangay chairman was shot dead at close quarters by two men riding tandem on a motorcycle in Barangay 168, Deparo, Caloocan City yesterday.

SPO1 Wilson Reyes, officer-on-case, said Barangay 168 Chairman Lauro "Larry" del Rosario, was unloading goods in front of his store at the corner of Samson Road and Llano street at 6 a.m. when he was shot in the head.

Witnesses said the triggerman was 5’5" in height, wearing a dark jacket and armed with a caliber .45 pistol. His companion acted as the lookout-driver. They fled on board a red motorcycle.

The 46-year-old Del Rosario was taken to the Bernardino General Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

The Caloocan City police, led by deputy chief Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton, also head of the station intelligence and investigation branch, are closing in on the suspects, identified as Andy Bernardo and Jon-Jon Osario, according to Superintendent Jimili Macaraeg, Northern Police District (NPD) intelligence and investigation division chief.

"Revenge was the most likely motive behind the killing. This is related to Del Rosario’s performance of his duty as barangay chairman," Macaraeg told The STAR.

He said that early this year, Del Rosario accosted one of the suspects for illegal possession of firearms and sent him to jail.

"We are also looking into other angles, but evidence gathered now points to the two suspects," Macaraeg said.

In 2001, the victim’s brother, Nemensio del Rosario, who was then the chairman of Barangay 168, was also murdered as a result of an his anti-crime drive in their area.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri condemned Del Rosario’s killing and directed Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside, city police chief, to conduct a manhunt for the suspects.

"This kind of senseless killing must be immediately addressed and the criminals responsible must face the full force of the law," the mayor said.

He also urged witnesses to come out and contact his office or the police for any information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.