A witness has identified an alias “Toto,” the man who allegedly killed a barangay captain in Ginot-an, San Joaquin, Iloilo.

On March 5, 2026, murder charges were filed against “Toto” before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Lt. Col. Rolando Araño, spokesperson of the Provincial Special Investigation Team, said the witness saw the suspect leaving the crime scene with a gun.

The witness also knows the suspect personally.

“Nakita niya itong galing sa crime scene ang ating suspect. Kilala niya personal, at may dalang baril,” Araño said.

MOTIVE

Deep anger is a possible motive in the killing of Barangay Captain Richard Sapalo, which may have stemmed from an incident in 2025.

In May 2025, a resident of the barangay allegedly pointed to the suspect as the one who stole that resident’s cow. Sapalo then issued a certificate of ownership to the resident, which paved the way for the filing of charges against the suspect.

Trial is ongoing for that case.

“Ongoing ang trial nyan. So meaning, naano na siya, na-arrest. At sa information natin dyan, parang naka-on bail siya,” Araño said.

Aside from theft, the suspect does not have any other negative record in the barangay.

However, the suspect may have also been the one who sent threats to the barangay captain during the New Year.