TACLOBAN CITY - A soldier who allegedly killed a village chief in Javier, Leyte was arrested by the authorities here on Monday, Aug. 29.
The suspect was identified as Alexandro Barcoma Calda, 33, an army sergeant assigned at the 63rd Infantry Battalion based in Brgy. Guirang, Basey, Samar.
Calda is one of the suspects in the shooting of Joel Riños, village chief of Brgy. Inayupan, Javier, Leyte on Aug. 22.
He had been placed under surveillance since that shooting in Brgy. Caranhug in Javier, Leyte as he was identified through Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) and other eyewitnesses.
Accordingly, the operating team approached the suspect to interview about the shooting incident but the latter introduced himself as enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
When he was being asked about his identification, the suspect voluntarily opened the u-box of his motorcycle.
The operating troops saw a short firearm described as a caliber .45 caliber pistol loaded with ammunition, and this prompted the Philippine National Police personnel to ask for its documents.
However, the suspect failed to show the necessary documents for possessing the firearm.
The suspect, along with the confiscated items, was brought to Tacloban City Police Station 2 for proper disposition.