Police arrest 2 suspects in killings of Puerto Galera councilor, son

Police have arrested two suspects in Tuesday's killing of a councilor in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and his 15-year-old son.

Senior Superintendent Chris Birung, Mindoro Oriental Police Provincial Office director, identified the arrestes suspects as Tirso Manlangit Tito, 39, driver, of Barangay Tambo, Lipa City; and Rogelio Sotto Sto. Tomas, 47, construction worker, of Barangay Bugtong, Lipa City.

Birung said the two suspects were seen by witnesses collecting scraps in front of the house of victims Councilor Melchor Arago, 52, and his son Kenneth at the time of their killing.

Arago and his son were killed around 3:30 p.m. in Barangay Tabinay, Puerto Galera.

The councilor was in his car parked in front of his house when two gunmen onboard a motorcycle stopped and shot him several times.

The gunmen also killed his son who stepped out of their house after the councilor's shooting.

Recovered from the crime scene were 10 fired cartridge cases and seven deformed slugs of a .45 pistol.

Upon learning of the incident, police conducted follow-up operations and received information about two suspicious men seen in Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera who boarded a white van, which left for Calapan City.

Birung said members of the San Teodoro Municipal Police Station, in coordination with Puerto Galera Municipal Station, nabbed the two suspects at a checkpoint.

Birung has created special investigation task group so look into the killings. —ALG, GMA News