BACOLOD CITY – The barangay chairman being investigated in the ambush-slay of four policemen in Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental died of an apparent suicide Tuesday, a day after he collapsed on a roadside in Barangay Awaan.
Sunny Caldera, 51, died at 11 a.m. at the Siliman Medical Center, according to Police Col. Raul Tacaca, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo).
Tacaca said Caldera may have drunk a pesticide since a container of the toxic product was recovered near his body. He said the victim had a history of previous suicide attempts.
Police were investigating Caldera’s possible involvement in the murder of four policemen allegedly perpetrated by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
Caldera had allegedly spoken to one of the policemen before the ambush.
The slain village chief, however, denied his involvement in the ambush that cost the lives of Police Corporal Relebert Beronio and Police Patrolmen Raffy Callao, Roel Cabellon, and Marquino de Leon, all members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-7. (Glazyl Masculino)
