TANZA, Cavite – The Cavite police has launched a manhunt against two suspects in the killing of a village chief here on Saturday morning.
Cavite Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. William Segun identified the slain village leader as Leonilo Dones Arbonida, 59 of Barangay Julugan 6 in this town, who was killed by riding-in-tandem suspects right in his sari-sari store.
Police investigation said the suspects were believed to be members of the illegal drug trade, who harbored grudges against Arbonida’s strong support to the police’s anti-illegal drug operations in the town.
Police probe however did not discount the possibility it was an election-related violence as the incident occurred during the first day of filing of the certificates of candidacy for aspirants in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) synchronized elections. The victim was serving his last term as Barangay Julugan 6 chairperson and was active in the anti-illegal drug operations since the start of the PNP’s “Tokhang” and “Tokhang Reloaded” strategies.
A witness, who requested anonymity for fear of his life, said two motorcycle-riding suspects arrived in front of the sari-sari store and upon seeing the village chief, the back-rider suddenly shot Arbonida and then fled to unknown direction.
The witness positively identified. through the police roque gallery, the back-rider who shot the victim as Silim King Josias, a resident of Phase 3, Carissa, Barangay Bagtas also in this town.
Records from the Tanza police station revealed that Josias, alias “Jojo Muslim, ” is highly-involved in the illegal drug trade in the town.
Arbonida succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the body. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)
