Diver in Robredo crash shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - An American diver who helped in the search and retrieval operations in the plane crash that killed interior secretary Jesse Robredo was shot in the face and killed by a security guard while opening the gate of a subdivision in Las Piñas City late Thursday night, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Adolfo Samala, Las Piñas City police chief, identified the victim as Philippine Coast Guard auxiliary member Captain Matthew Caldwell, a US citizen residing at Hamilton Heights in Barangay Talon 5.

Caldwell helped in the search and retrieval operation of the plane carrying Robredo that crashed off Masbate sea last year.

He was supposedly celebrating his 59th birthday on the day he was killed, according to the PCG.

Initial police investigation showed that Caldwell and his live-in partner Jeanalyn Flora arrived in their car at the gate of the subdivision at about 10:30 Thursday night.

Security guard Ericson Mendoza Blacquio refused to open the gate because the plate number of the car was among those of residents listed as not paying dues to the homeowners’ association. 

Moreover, the rule set by the homeowners is for delinquent dues payers to open the gate themselves without the assistance of the guard on duty, said Las Piñas Police Criminal Investigation Division Chief Giovanni Martinez.

But when the American was about to open the gate, the security guard confronted him and a heated argument ensued. 

At the height of the argument, the security guard allegedly took his service 12-gauge shotgun and shot the victim in the face. The security guard and his unidentified companion then commandeered a passing motorcycle and fled.

“A special team was organized to track down the suspects,” Martinez said.

A review of the security logbook showed that last Aug. 13, Caldwell and Blacquio already had an argument over entry in the subdivision. The American allegedly berated and cursed the security guard.

The Las Piñas police are preparing a murder charge against the suspect and his cohort. They are also coordinating with the president of the homeowners association to determine if the victim was really not paying his association dues.

The PCG has condemned the killing and expressed its sympathy for Caldwell.

“Matt really loves the Philippines. He has been very helpful to the Coast Guard in the past years and willing to lend his pro bono services whenever we asked for his help,” PCG spokesman Commander Armando Balilo said. 

Caldwell was a seasoned diver who had been living in the Philippines for more than 20 years. He had been a partner of the PCG in its search and rescue operations in the past years. 

  – With Evelyn Macairan