BOCAUE SHOOTOUT: 7th ID soldiers file murder raps vs mayoral bet

Eleven soldiers of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division who figured in the alleged shootout with supporters of a son of Jesus is Lord Movement evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva in Bocaue, Bulacan last Friday filed charges of murder and multiple frustrated murder before the Department of Justice yesterday.

Assisted by their legal counsel, lawyer Hermilo Barrios, of the Judge Advocate General’s Office, the soldiers filed the charges against Villanueva’s son Eduardo Jr., a mayoral candidate; Francisco Villa and several John Does with the office of assistant chief prosecutor Anthony Fadullon.

The alleged shootout led to the killing of 34-year-old Cpl. Leonardo Pataray, whose widow, Estrelita, was also among the complainants.

"We have testimonial and scientific evidence to show that they (soldiers) were just passing by the barangay. They were mistaken (to be the) people of Mayor Serafin de la Cruz," Barrios told reporters.

Barrios said the soldiers had just come from an intelligence operation when the young Villanueva’s supporters allegedly fired at them.

"The group of Villanueva was heavily armed; the one (who was) shot was unarmed. We are not the aggressor here," he said.

Barrios also dismissed allegations that the soldiers were involved in partisan politics. "The Army does not (engage in) politics. We have to seek justice for our dead soldier," he said.

In their three-page affidavit, the soldiers – Corporals Joselito de la Cruz, Roland Marvin Dagupon, and Elpidio Sagucio Jr., Pfcs. Joseph Fernando Agorilla and Jonathan Correa, Privates Arnel Manuel and Ariel Cabalquinto and four other men of the 7th ID’s 3rd Infantry Battalion – tagged the young Villanueva as the one who allegedly ordered Villa and the other unidentified suspects to open fire at them.

The soldiers also alleged that they were ambushed by Villanueva’s group and were fired at without aggression on their part as they were passing through Barangay Bunlo in Bocaue.

They said they were able to return fire, forcing their attackers to retreat inside the Jesus is Lord compound in the barangay.

Earlier, Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, 7th ID commander, belied Villanueva’s accusation that the soldiers provoked the shootout as they were tearing down his campaign posters.

Gomez said the soldiers were on a "legitimate mission" in Ubihan, Meycauayan town that was not election-related.

"The troops were sent to verify the reported presence of armed groups in the area. When the information turned out to be negative, the soldiers went back to their base in Hagonoy, Bulacan, passing through the town of Bocaue where the shootout took place," he said. – With Abigail Orencia and Fejie Fantilaga