Police file charges vs suspects in vice mayor's slay

CAMP VICENTE LIM, LAGUNA – Police have filed criminal charges against two suspects in the ambush-slay of ex-Masbate Vice Mayor Joseph Magallanes in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Dec 9.

Police Superintendent Ismael Hernandez, Sta. Rosa City police chief, refused to divulge the name of the suspects due to ongoing police operations, however, he said they have filed charges for murder against the gunmen. He said witnesses positively identified the suspects through police gallery .

Hernandez said politics is one of the motives behind the killing of Magallanes who was gunned down by two men in front of his residence in Buenarosa Subdivision in Barangay Labas, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, on Dec. 9. He said Magallanes had filed a petition of vote recount before the sala of the Clavera – Commission on Elections after he lost in the May elections as vice mayor of Clavera town, Masbate.

Hernandez said the probers are also eyeing “business rivalry” as possible motive due to family business in scrap trading.

According to police records, the victim was standing in front of the gate of his house when he was attacked by two suspects at around 5:30 p.m. Probers said the gunmen, one of them described by witnesses as chubby with curly hair, 5’6’’ tall and armed with .45 caliber immediately escaped on foot toward Barangay Tagapo.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 4A is conducting its own investigation in the Magallanes slay after the family sought assistance from the agency.