Suspect in teen’s 2009 murder falls

MANILA, Philippines - A former barangay chairwoman’s son, who went into hiding after allegedly killing a 19-year-old neighbor in Quezon City four years ago, was arrested in Bulacan Thursday.

Ross Magpayo, 38, led police officers tailing him on a two-day hunt through Parañaque, Pasay and Quezon City before they finally caught him in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, according to Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10.

QCPD director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said Magpayo was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 98 in Quezon City. 

Magpayo was wanted for the murder of 19-year-old factory worker Ricky Millena in January 2009.

According to Pedrozo, Magpayo was reportedly a “neighborhood toughie” at the time of the killing as his mother was the barangay chairman of Barangay Central then.

Millena was shot in front of his house along Agham Road after an altercation with Magpayo. Another victim, Jovan Magnata, was wounded in the attack.

The suspect had fled following the killing, as reports indicated he had taken sanctuary in his hometown in the Bicol region. On Wednesday, Pedrozo received a text message from an informant that Magpayo was back in Metro Manila.