Witness in Iloilo murder kills self

CEBU, Philippines -  A witness in the murder of a former barangay chairman allegedly committed suicide at Project 1, Brgy. Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City last Thursday.

Dindo Luzuriaga, 36, a pedicab driver, tied an electrical cord around his neck and hanged himself on a bamboo. His body was found by his wife and aunt around 6 a.m. that day.

Senior Insp. Leah Peña, Arevalo Police chief, said Luzuriaga’s family declined any further investigation and ruled the incident to be suicide.

Luzuriaga was said to be have witnessed the killing of former Brgy. Capt. Joel Piñas, 51, of Brgy. Dungon-C, Mandurriao district on March 20, 2012.

Political allies claimed that Piñas’s killing maybe politically-motivated since he was identified as “opposition” and was an active leader in the distribution of goodies to indigent families in the city.  (FREEMAN)