Suspect in 2024 slay of Bulacan barangay chief, driver nabbed in Navotas City

Police have arrested one of the suspects in the 2024 murder of the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Bulacan and his driver.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, Ramil Capistrano’s driver was at the wheel of Capistrano’s SUV when the two victims were ambushed by the assailants on Oct. 3, 2024 in Malolos City, Bulacan. They immediately died from their gunshot wounds.

One of the suspects – who acted as the gunmen’s driver – was recently arrested at his family’s home in Navotas City. 

“Through the positive identification of the witnesses ay kasama siya sa araw kung saan pinatay ang biktima. Itong suspect na ito, nag-act po siya as a driver,” said Bulacan Provincial Police Office director Police Colonel Angel Garcillano. 

(Through the positive identification of the witnesses, he was with [the group] on the day the victim was killed. This suspect acted as the driver.) 

The suspect is allegedly part of a gun-for-hire group supposedly led by a dismissed policeman.

After two months of surveillance, authorities learned that the suspect comes home to his family in Navotas City every month. The arrested suspect has yet to give a statement on the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the motive for the ambush on Capistrano. The report stated that three other suspects – including the dismissed policeman – are still at large.

“Palipat-lipat yung mga suspects. We have established areas, not only in Metro Manila, not only in Region 1, not only in Region IV-B. So dito na po kami naka-focus ngayon,” said Garcillano.

(The suspects have been moving around. We have established areas, not only in Metro Manila, not only in Region 1, [and] not only in Region IV-B. So we are now focusing here.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News