ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is investigating how the gun owned by AAMBIS-Owa party-list Rep. Lex Colada was used by a murder suspect in the killing of a former barangay captain in Tigbauan town, Iloilo province.
COL. Bayani Razalan (center) speaks in a press conference in Camp Sumagaysay, the headquarters of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. He is joined by IPPO spokesperson Major Rolando Araño (standing) and Capt. Alfred Mansoy, police chief of Tigbauan town. (Tara Yap)
Iloilo top cop Col. Bayani Razalan said that investigators want to know how the .45 caliber pistol registered to Colada came into the possession of suspect John Castro Jr.
Castro admitted killing former barangay captain Joevanie Triste in broad daylight last Oct. 24 following a verbal confrontation between the two.
This was the latest development after a murder charge was filed against Castro by the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station, its police chief Police Capt. Alfred Mansoy maintaining that Castro killed Triste due to a personal grudge.
Razalan initially did not name Colada as the gun owner but was pressed by members of the Iloilo media when the top cop called for a press conference.
After the gun used by Castro was recovered, it underwent ballistic examination.
The Regional Civil Security Unit of the Police Regional Office-6 was able to trace the ownership of the gun to Colada.
Razalan said the police are looking into the liability of Colada, a lawyer.
“We are consulting with our legal team,” added Razalan.