Suspect in Tigbauan Village Chief’s Murder Arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The alleged gunman in the murder of a village official was arrested shortly after midnight on December 10 in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

John Castro Jr., 51, a resident of Barangay San Rafael, Tigbauan, was apprehended at Barangay Bagumbayan around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Members of the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station, the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC), the Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG), and the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) served the arrest warrant for murder against Castro.

No bail was recommended for his temporary release.

Castro was ranked as the second most wanted person in Iloilo province.

He is accused of killing Joevanie Triste, 58, an incumbent barangay kagawad and former barangay captain of San Rafael, Tigbauan, on the morning of October 24, 2024.

The victim sustained seven gunshot wounds to different parts of his body.

Castro fled the scene immediately after the incident.

A few days later, he voluntarily surrendered to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), which had no jurisdiction over his case.

He was able to execute an extrajudicial affidavit, with the assistance of a lawyer, stating that his surrender was unnecessary as a case had already been filed against him.

At that time, the court had not yet issued an arrest warrant.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) later disclosed that the firearm used by Castro was linked to a party-list representative.

Meanwhile, Colonel Bayani Razalan, Iloilo police chief, described Castro’s arrest as a significant step toward achieving justice, particularly for the victim’s family.

Castro is currently under the custody of the Tigbauan Police and will be turned over to the appropriate court.