Ex-Cavite village head nabbed  for shooting

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A former barangay chairman was charged with illegal possession of firearms after his arrest yesterday morning for shooting two police officers in Maragondon, Cavite the previous day.

The incident left tricycle driver Larry Casama dead and SPO1 Reynaldo Beltran and Inspector Sajid Butac Maragondon deputy chief, wounded. A five-year-old boy, Exiquel Angeles, was also hurt in the incident.

Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, Cavite police director, said the suspect, Eliseo Pineda, 52, former chairman of Barangay Pacheco in Magallanes town and a former Philippine Constabulary member, was arrested in Barangay Banaba Cerca, Indang town by a joint police team.

Seized from Pineda were an AK-47 rifle with sniper scope, two handheld radios, and assorted bullets.

Posadas said they got information that Pineda was allegedly planning to assassinate Maragondon Mayor Monte Andaman when authorities intercepted him.

The two wounded lawmen tried to flag down a tricycle bearing Pineda and driven by Casama, but instead of stopping, Pineda fired at them.

Casama’s sister, Weng, however, claimed that the lawmen were the ones who shot her brother from behind. Posadas vowed to investigate the allegation.