Former soldier facing rape charge kills self inside jail

A retired soldier who was detained at the San Fernando Municipal Jail for a rape case reportedly committed suicide inside his prison cell yesterday morning.

Retired Army Sgt. Almario De Guzman, 53, of barangay San Isidro was found by his cellmates hanging inside the cell with a cloth around his neck tied to the ceiling.

Initial police investigation revealed that one of De Guzman's inmates, Alejandro Cañas, said he saw De Guzman sitting on the floor when he woke up to answer the call of nature around 2:00 a.m.

But when he again woke up around 6:00 a.m. Cañas saw De Guzman already hanging inside the cell leaving a suicide note written on an empty pack of cigarette.

SPO1 Victor Cuyno yesterday told The Freeman that they could not yet determine what was written on the suicide note since a follow-up investigation is still being conducted.

Cuyno added that De Guzman's body is now undergoing autopsy to determine whether there was a foul play regarding his death.

De Guzman was detained last February 13 for allegedly raping his neighbor. He was turned over to the San Fernando Police Station by San Isidro barangay Captain Rodrigo Sebial following his surrender.

SPO1 Joel Nebroja yesterday told The Freeman that his cellmates have described De Guzman as a silent person.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man was killed after he was shot in sitio Lacaron, baranagy Pitalo, San Fernando town Thursday night.

Abel Abogon, a resident of barangay Panadtaran, was reportedly shot by a certain Bienvenido Espinosa, a resident of Cabongahan, Naga town, for still unknown reason.

Cuyno said based on their initial investigation, the suspect arrived in sitio Lacaron and immediately shot the victim, who was immediately brought to South General Hospital but died later due to several gunshot wounds he sustained.

Cuyno said it was possible that the shooting was triggered by a personal grudge but a follow-up investigation is still being conducted to determine the real motive of the incident. - Norvie S. Misa/LPM