Four Barangay Tanods Face Murder Charges in Connection with Man’s death

Authorities have recently filed murder charges against four barangay tanods who have been linked to the death of a man discovered in a creek in Las Piñas after the Christmas season. The filing of the charges was based on the elements of the incident, witness testimonies, and CCTV footage obtained by the police. The footage revealed that the tanods were seen holding the victim before his untimely demise. According to PCol Jaime Santos, the Las Piñas police chief, the victim was last seen riding a tricycle supposedly en route to a medical test but mysteriously vanished.

The four tanods are currently in police custody as investigations continue.

On December 27, authorities received a distress call reporting the discovery of a dead body at C5 Creek in Barangay Manuyo Uno. An autopsy conducted later on revealed that the cause of death for the victim, identified as Gerico Rocabo, aged 24, was asphyxia or strangulation.

Witnesses who came forward stated that the victim had been under the custody of several barangay tanods hours before his lifeless body was found. At the time of Rocabo’s disappearance on December 26, twelve barangay tanods were on duty, as confirmed by the police chief. Additionally, another witness reported seeing Rocabo accompanied by two barangay tanods inside a stainless tricycle that served as a patrol vehicle.

PCol Jaime Santos urged any other potential witnesses to step forward and provide information that could help identify the individuals responsible for the crime.