BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO — AAMBIS-OWA party-list’s Cong. Lex Colada bared how the disappearance of his registered firearm – which the police alleged was used by suspect John Castro Jr. in the killing of Barangay Kagawad Jovanie Triste of San Rafael, Tigbauan town on October 24 – was discovered.
In an affidavit submitted to the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU 6) of the Police Regional Office 6, Colada stated that he placed two firearms — a .45 caliber and a .9mm pistol — in his Toyota Innova with plans to bring them to a gun shop in Manila for maintenance. However, he later abandoned these plans and left the firearms inside the vehicle.
On October 23, Colada said he requested his brother, Bong Colada, to retrieve the weapons from the car after their mother asked to use the vehicle.
Colada said Bong later revealed that he had not taken the vehicle himself but had instead sent a driver along with an errand boy, JR Castro, to fetch it.
According to Colada, Bong did not inform either the driver or Castro about the firearms inside the vehicle.
Colada said he learned that his .45 caliber had been used in the crime through a letter from the RCSU 6 on November 7.
Concerned, Colada said he inquired with his brother Bong about the whereabouts of the two firearms. Bong, he added, initially claimed the weapons were at his home in Tigbauan but when they checked the house, the guns were missing.
Charges of accessory to the crime of murder and violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act were filed against Colada by the Tigbauan police station on November 14.
Castro had admitted shooting Triste but claimed self-defense./PN
