Former barangay tanod killed by hitman in Tondo

A former barangay tanod in Tondo was killed by a hitman in broad daylight, after receiving death threats as early as 2019 following his work as a village watchman during the campaign against illegal drugs.

The victim worked as a mechanic after his stint as a barangay tanod in Barangay 52, Tondo. He was gunned down while he was in a garage last Tuesday.

Video footage from the area showed that the victim was still able to run away from the garage, but was followed by the gunman who fired additional shots. He did not make it to the hospital alive.

The gunman — identified as 23-year old alias "Onyok" — was arrested in Caloocan by officials of the Manila Police District with a gun in his possession.

The suspect confessed to the killing, saying he was paid P20,000 by a contact in jail for the job which was already his second.

“Basta tinanggap ko na lang po ‘yung trabaho. Hindi ko na po tinanong kung ano ‘yung dahilan. Kailangan po kasi ng pera eh,” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“Pasensya na po, nangangailangan lang po,” he added.

(I just accepted the job. I did not ask for the reason. I just needed the money… Please forgive me, I just really needed the money.)

The alleged shooter will face murder, illegal possession of firearms, and election gun ban violation charges.

The victim’s live-in partner said they already received death threats back in 2019, when Oplan Tokhang was in full force.

“Meron pong mga nakapagsabi samin na mga concerned na ‘Umalis na kayo diyan kasi bayad na ang ulo ng asawa mo, lumayo na kayo’,” she said in the same report.

(We were told by a concerned individual to leave the area as someone was out to get my husband.)

— Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News