Possible firearms of suspects in Isabela vice mayor slay found

CAGAYAN, Philippines – Local police on Wednesday, July 15, retrieved firearms from a cassava farm in Maddela town in Quirino province. Police are verifying if the arms were used to kill an Isabela town vice mayor and an aide a month earlier.

Jones town Vice Mayor Florante Agustin Raspado, 53 and Anthony Agarin, 30, a security aide of Councilor Lanie Uy, were killed on June 19 this year after two gunmen attacked the municipal hall during a midmorning session.  

Police Superintendent Alex Delos Santos, information officer of PNP-Cagayan Valley, told Rappler that the discovery was incidental after the farmers reportedly called the police.

The supects were identified as retired soldiers Reynaldo Tapia and Michael Deocariza, who were based at Camp General Mateo Capin in Tanay, Rizal. Both were caught on the same day in Maddela, Quirino, the same town where the firearms were discovered.

Among the haul were M-16 riffle, magazines, 133 ammunitions, two sets of military uniforms with embedded surnames “Ramos” and “Reyes,” as well as combat boots and a mobile phone.

Delos Santos said the firearms have been brought to the crime laboratory.

“Wala pa pong confirmation (if firearms were used by suspects) from the crime laboratory,” Delos Santos said in a text message.

(There is no confirmation from the crime laboratory that the firearms were used by the suspects.)

Police Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Sinaon also said that he ordered a search for evidence the suspects may have hidden in Maddela town. –Rappler.com