For most people, the New Year is not merely an occasion for family gatherings and feasts; it signifies a new beginning, a chance to change the course of their lives. But what happens when this date becomes unforgettable for the worst possible reason? This is the tragic fate of Councilor Reynaldo Dagsa.

Born in 1975, Reynaldo was initially an electrical engineer by training, but during college, he realized his true passion was photography. Instead of entering the world of engineering, he held a camera in his hands and became a simple photographer.

Years later, he met Arlene, and the two married. Their union resulted in two children, a daughter and a son. As his family grew and expenses increased, he expanded his business from simple photography to offering video coverage for various occasions like weddings, baptisms, and even wakes—he never turned down work.

Reynaldo was described by those who knew him as loving, kind, and a good father and husband. His children recalled that no matter how busy he was, he always made time to bring them lunch at school, ensuring they ate a warm meal.

Beyond his work and family, Reynaldo held a deep passion for politics. Although Arlene was hesitant, she supported her husband when he ran for Councilor (Kagawad) in their area, Barangay 35, Caloocan City, during the 2002 elections.

Reynaldo won, and the residents were pleased with his service due to his inherent kindness. He even opened his home to people needing assistance.

On the evening of December 31, 2010, while people were preparing food for the New Year’s welcome, Reynaldo arrived home at 9 p.m. Arlene recalled that he told her he would take a nap and asked her to wake him up before midnight. As they had agreed, she woke up her husband and children just before the New Year. Arlene, along with other family members, invited Reynaldo to take their picture outside their house.

Arlene, their daughter, and her mother posed together near their car, while Reynaldo stood in front of them, holding his camera. The Councilor’s daughter recalled hearing a loud sound, which, in her young mind, she mistook for a firecracker.

However, the sound she assumed came from fireworks was actually from a gun. Immediately afterward, she heard her father scream, “Aray ko!” (Ouch!), and his body collapsed. Despite the noise from the shouting, videoke, and firecrackers, the cries and pleas for help from the wife and children rang out.

Reynaldo’s daughter quickly grabbed the camera from his hands while Arlene rushed to get the car keys. They managed to rush him to the hospital, but the doctors could do nothing; he was Dead on Arrival. Instead of a new beginning and new hopes, the Dagsa family was left to plan Reynaldo’s wake.

The autopsy revealed that the Councilor had been hit by three bullets, but the fatal shot was the one that struck near his heart. Authorities did not struggle to identify the perpetrators. As you may recall, just before the shooting, Reynaldo was taking a picture of his family. From the camera he used, authorities discovered that he had managed to capture a photo of the man who shot him.

Based on eyewitness accounts, the man in the photo was identified as Arnel Buenaflor. Authorities immediately launched a manhunt for the suspect. The Dagsa family closely followed every news report, hoping for the suspect’s swift capture.

On the night of January 6, through the cooperation of the Caloocan City Police Station and authorities in the province of Isabela, Arnel Buenaflor was arrested at a boarding house in Barangay Calaba, Aurora, Isabela. Police Chief Jimmy Rivera of Isabela presented the suspect, and in the released photos, people noticed that Buenaflor was wearing the same baseball cap he wore when he shot the Councilor.

He was transferred from Aurora to Caloocan, where Senior Superintendent Jude Santos shared details of the arrest in a press conference. He stated that by using various cellphone numbers connected to Buenaflor’s contacts, they were able to trace his location to Isabela.

He also mentioned that besides the suspect, they arrested his girlfriend, Lorraine Castro, who helped him hide. Using the same photo, authorities also identified Buenaflor’s accomplices: Frederick Sales, Michael Rolon, Romel Oliva, and Francis Von Jal.

Only Sales, Rolon, and Buenaflor were apprehended by the authorities. All five suspects were also residents of Barangay 35, and locals reported they were all members of a group called the “Pasaway Gang”. They were known hold-uppers and carnappers. Authorities noted that the gunman, Buenaflor, had been in and out of jail; in 2010, he was temporarily released because a judge allowed him to post bail.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos initially theorized that a powerful figure paid Buenaflor to kill Councilor Reynaldo. However, due to lack of evidence, this theory was not pursued. Their attention focused on the possibility that no mastermind was behind the killing other than the suspects they had arrested. When interviewed by reporters, Buenaflor claimed that the Councilor had wronged him by shooting him in the head, and he was merely seeking revenge.

This angle was supported by the former Captain of Barangay 35. According to him, the Pasaway Gang had been a problem in their Barangay due to their illegal activities. Months before the shooting, the group and Councilor Reynaldo’s paths had crossed. As the local government assisted Caloocan in cleaning up the area, the Peace and Order Team was formed with the goal of bringing peace and safety to the residents of Barangay 35, Barangay 28, and Barangay 31.

The joint forces of Barangay officials and authorities rounded up and detained individuals involved in illegal activities. The Peace and Order Team received complaints about the harassment caused by the Pasaway Gang, so Councilor Reynaldo sought the assistance of the Army Reserve and the police to capture the group, knowing they were armed. When they arrived at the location, a shootout occurred between the Army and the Pasaway Gang. However, being more skilled and experienced, the Army Reserve managed to subdue the group.

According to Lulu Buenaflor, the gunman’s aunt, in the story relayed to her by her nephew, his gun allegedly malfunctioned or jammed, so he chose to surrender instead of fighting. But instead of being handcuffed, he was reportedly shot in the head by Councilor Reynaldo’s companions. He was rushed to the hospital, and after recovering, he was jailed but later released after posting bail.

Councilor Reynaldo’s wife, Arlene, stated that after the encounter with the Pasaway Gang, the threats increased, not only against the Councilor’s life but also against hers. Before Christmas in 2010, Reynaldo informed her about the calls and texts he was receiving from a man. However, instead of being scared, Reynaldo told her not to take the threats seriously, believing the person was merely trying to intimidate him.

Investigators could not confirm if the threats came from Buenaflor but were confident in the evidence they had gathered against him, even without that confirmation. In an interview, the culprit stated that he did not initially plan to kill the Councilor on New Year’s Day, but because he happened to pass by the Councilor’s house, he carried out his long-delayed revenge.

“Siya yung unang ngargabyado, binaril niya ako. Ah, malapit nang… Hinahabol ko nga no’n, magba-Bagong Taon ako sa amin dahil mag-a-dose na, e. Nagmamadali akong umuwi. Na napadaan ako sa kanila, e. Nakakita ko siguro. Parang hindi ko na rin pinal…” (He was the first to wrong me; he shot me. Ah, it was almost… I was rushing to greet the New Year at home because it was almost 12. I happened to pass by their house, and when I saw him, I guess I just didn’t let it pass.)

The arraignment in the trial began at 8:30 a.m. on March 4, 2011. Arlene, along with supporters, wore black T-shirts that read “Justice for Kagawad Dagsa.” The three suspects charged with murder pleaded Not Guilty.

While the photo and the arrest of the perpetrators quickly went viral, the trial progressed at a painfully slow pace. More than a year later, in February 2012, an Inquirer reporter interviewed Arlene. The Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 123 had only held seven hearings, and some were rescheduled because a police officer required to appear in court failed to attend.

Arlene could not hide her disappointment with the police, stating that at one point she had to personally go to the police station to plead with the officer to attend the trial and testify. To her shock, the officer was found sleeping while on duty. Due to the prolonged trial, Arlene said she had spent a significant amount of money to retain a lawyer. Besides the financial problems, she described the litigation as mentally and emotionally draining—a tiring process.

In August 2013, over two years after Reynaldo’s murder, Lorraine Castro, Buenaflor’s girlfriend who was also arrested in 2011, was released. However, she was quickly back behind bars because she dared to smuggle marijuana into the jail to give to Buenaflor. As of this recording, the two lookouts, Buenaflor’s accomplices, are still at large.