Soldier killed, 11 others accosted in shooting incident in Bulacan

By Ronron
May 4, 2007

A soldier was killed before dawn of Friday in a shooting incident between members of the Philippine Army and supporters of a mayoralty candidate in Bulacan province, police said.

But the version of the incident of the police and the camp of Bocaue mayoralty candidate Eduardo “Jonjon” Villanueva, Jr., son of Jesus is Lord (JIL) Movement leader, Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, differs to that of the Philippine Army.

According to police, the camp of the younger Villanueva had just arrived at their campaign headquarters in Barangay Bunlo, Bocaue at around 12:45 am yesterday (Friday) when they received information that the billboards of CIBAC (Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption) and BUTIL Farmers party-list organizations are being destroyed by unidentified armed men.

Villanueva’s brother, Joel, is the Representative of CIBAC.

When Villanueva went out to check the billboards, police said the bystanders pointed at one passing motorcycle as the one carrying the persons responsible for the billboard bashing.

Villanueva then shouted at the motorcycle-riding persons to stop what they are doing. But the unidentified men drew out their short firearms, sparking the shooting incident.

One of the armed men died and was later found out to be a member of the Philippine Army, identified as Corporal Leonardo Pataray of the 3rd Infantry Battalion.

Elements of the Bocaue Police Station (BPS) promptly arrived at the site and immediately nabbed the armed men. They were later discovered to be elements as well of the 3rd IB, which is based in Hagonoy town of same province.

They were identified as Corporals Joselito dela Cruz, Elpidio Sagucio, Jr., and Roland Merwin Dagupan; Privates First Class Fernando Asurillo, Tranquilino Pillos, Jonathan Correa, Isaac Cesar Oplama, Joseph Winston Gonzales, and Michael Agustin; and Privates Arnel Manuel and Ariel Cabalquinto.

Confiscated from them were three M16 Armalite rifles, two ammunition bandoleers with seven loaded long magazines and 11 loaded short magazines for M16, one XRM motorcycle with plate number RH 8090, and one Mistubishi L200 pick up with plate number TSV 448.

At the same time, the Bocaue Police took custody of Villanueva’s police security escort, identified as SPO1 Renato Aldepolla from the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) in Camp Crame, and SPO1 Jesus Payongayong, from the BPS.

Recovered from the two police officers were one caliber 38 revolver (issued firearm of Aldepolla), caliber 9mm pistol (issued to Payongayong), and one Hyundai Grace van with plate number XCR 239, owned by Adlepolla.

Members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered from the crime scene the following items: seven empty shells for M16; two empty shells for cal. 9mm; two empty shells for cal. 45; two rounds of live ammunition for M16; one slug of still undetermined caliber; and one wallet with personal documents of Pataray.

All accosted soldiers and police officers were already subjected yesterday to gunpowder residue tests, and their firearms to ballistic examinations.

In a radio interview, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon said Aldepolla already admitted to have opened fire first to serve as warning shot to the Army troops.

“Definitely, the exchange of gunfire is between the group of mayoralty candidate Villanueva and the group of the Philippine Army,” Calderon said.

Asked if the Army were indeed destroying the posters, Calderon said: “That is the initial finding. They were allegedly putting up also some posters and there are reports that they have a poster-removal brigade.”

But the Army has a different version of the incident.

Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, which has supervision and control of the 3IB, said the 12-man team had just come from a surveillance work in Barangay Buhan, Meycauayan town.

He said that when the team arrived at Barangay Bunlo at around 12:45 am, a group of armed men tried to flag them down.

Since there were no signs that it was a checkpoint, Gomez said the Army troops, who were aboard a van and a motorcycle, did not heed to the signal. They were then fired upon by the group of armed men on the ground.

Gomez revealed that the Army troopers were just in civilian clothes.

The brief shootout resulted in the death of Pataray, who was the team leader, said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr.

Villanueva said he believes the person behind the attack against him is the incumbent mayor of Bocaue, Serafin dela Cruz, who is challenging him this May 14 polls.

Dela Cruz belied the allegation, saying he does not even have a firearm or any bodyguard.

Dela Cruz went instead to theorize that the incident was just for show so he can gain media mileage.

Due to unclear motives, police investigators would not immediately say if the incident is related to the upcoming elections.

A task force was created to investigate the incident./DMS