TACLOBAN CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has apprehended Emmanuel ‘Weng-Weng’ Veloso, the alleged mastermind behind the 2019 killing of Levi Mabini, the former municipal administrator of San Isidro, Leyte.
Veloso was arrested by NBI personnel on Wednesday, August 7, at approximately 8:01 am while he was at his batching plant in Barangay Linao, San Isidro.
Veloso is accused of orchestrating the murder of Mabini, who was killed on May 8, 2019, in Brgy. Capiñahan, San Isidro.
Veloso’s arrest follows a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 85 in Quezon City on April 2 of this year.
The case against Veloso was transferred to the Quezon City-based regional trial court by a Supreme Court resolution dated January 22, 2024, at the request of Mabini’s family.
The murder case was originally filed at RTC Branch 11 in Calubian, Leyte, which had also issued an arrest warrant for Veloso.
Veloso is part of a politically prominent family in Leyte’s third district, which has recently experienced a series of violent incidents involving barangay officials.
His sister, Juanita Veloso, was ambushed and killed on December 21, 2023, while driving in Brgy. Libongao, Kananga, on her way home to San Isidro.
Emmanuel Veloso is the brother of Mayor Remedio Veloso of San Isidro.
Mayor Veloso, who visited the NBI regional office when his brother was arrested, declined to comment on the situation involving Emmanuel.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
