Cop, tanod charged with teen’s murder

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman and a barangay watchman were charged with murder in connection with the kidnapping of a teenager whose body was found in a vacant lot in Quezon City last week, an official said yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ernesto Halili of the Quezon City Police District Station 6 and tanod Eduardo Bodoso of Barangay Payatas B were linked to the killing of Jefferson delos Santos, 17, who was snatched on the night of April 10 by four men in full view of his boss, vegetable vendor Ariel Concepcion.

Halili and Bodoso, along with two other men, were seen near the crime scene by the victim’s parents as they were searching for the teenager, according to Police Officer 2 Anthony Tejerero. Delos Santos’ parents, Ricardo and Evelyn, said they asked the four men if they saw their son but the suspects allegedly ignored them and walked away.

Tejerero said the parents knew the two suspects as they all live in the same neighborhood.