Raps filed vs. Ilonggo party-list solon over a barangay captain’s death

INQUIRER FILES

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A lawmaker is facing charges in connection with the killing of a former barangay captain in Tigbauan town, Iloilo.

Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office, said the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station filed charges against Rep. Lex Anthony “Cris” Colada for allegedly being an accessory to a murder.

The charge was filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Nov. 14.

Colada represents the party-list Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma Inc. (AAMBIS-OWA).

Aside from this case, Colada is also accused of violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act linked to the October 24 murder of Jovanni Triste, a former village chief of San Rafael in Tigbauan town.

The Inquirer tried to get Colada’s side through his party-list’s Facebook account and his office in Congress but was told by his staff member that they would respond to the issue through their office in Iloilo.

As of afternoon of Nov. 19, Colada and his staff members have yet to get back to the Inquirer.

Colada is the husband of Mayor Jennifer Garin Colada of Guimbal, Iloilo.

He succeeded his sister-in-law, now Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin, as the party-list’s representative in the 2022 elections.

Colada owned the gun used in the killing of Triste, the police said.

His ownership was confirmed by the Philippine National Police Regional Civil Security Unit.

Araño, however, cannot not confirm how Colada’s .45 caliber gun was used by John Castro Jr. in killing Triste.

The police official, however, said the proceedings will allow the congressman to properly answer the charges against him.

The alleged assailant Castro is a former member of the Iloilo City government’s Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures.

He surrendered to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) on Oct. 28 after a case of murder was filed against him on the same day.

The police subsequently filed charges of accessory to a murder against Colada after investigation showed that he owned the gun.

“The purpose as to why we filed this case is (for Colada) to explain why his (fire)arm was able to reach up to this crime,” Araño said in a phone interview on Monday, Nov. 18.