Silverio resident could have been slain by fellow protester

MANILA, Philippines—Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said investigators were looking into the possibility the resident who was killed during the bloody demolition at Silverio Compound Monday could have been shot not by police but by his own neighbor.

Speaking to reporters, Robredo said that this theory was made after Victor Etrata, one of the 33 residents arrested after the violent clash between the informal settlers and police-backed demolition team, was tested positive for powder burns in a paraffin test, meaning that he, too, fired a gun.

Further, as per the initial autopsy report by the National Bureau of Investigation, Robredo said that the entry wound seen at the slain protestor identified as Arnel Leonor, corresponds to a 9 millimeter pistol, or to a caliber .38 revolver, different from the standard issued firearms to SWAT members, that is M-16.

He said the entry wound to Leonor’s temple could have been bigger if the bullet was from an M-16.

“So, ang tanong sa kanya is, ‘Nagpaputok ka ba? ‘Eto kasi iyong pruweba’ (So the question is, ‘Did you fire your gun? This is the proof’,” the secretary said, but adding that no slug was recovered at the area where Leonor was found sprawled on the ground along Sucat Road in Paranaque City.

Nonetheless, investigators will still look into the possible liabilities of the SWAT team, eight of whose members were found to have fired their issued guns during Monday’s demolition activity at Silverio Compound Monday morning.

“Kaya nga gusto natin itong maimbistigahan nang maayos para malaman kung ano iyong pinagmulan at kung sino ang nagpaputok . . . kung ito ay nanggaling talaga sa pulis (So we need to investigate this properly to know where the gunshot came and who fired the shot),” Robredo said.