Couple nabbed for murder of former US Navy man

MANILA, Philippines—A couple believed to be behind the killing of a former US Navy serviceman in Binangonan town, Rizal, were arrested by authorities on Sunday night.

Akmad Solayman, 29, and Anisah Abubakar, 27, were arrested by policemen in Angono, Rizal, Chief Inspector Edcel Canals, town police chief, said in a phone interview.

The couple and two other people were earlier tagged in the killing of African-American Jairad Salmunde Cummings, 27, who was married to a Filipino woman identified as Maria Jangliah de Venecia.

The victim was buying from a store on Champaca Street in Barangay (village) San Carlos, a few blocks away from his home, when a gray car with four people on board stopped in front of him. Two people alighted from the vehicle and, without warning, shot him at least five times.

Bystanders took the victim to a hospital where he later passed away. The police were able to identify the four after they learned that Cummings and his wife had figured in a brawl with Moslems in front of a grocery store in Angono on February 5.