Cop assigned to EOD-K9 unit found dead

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Another police officer assigned to Iloilo province was found dead early morning of September 26, 2021 in Pavia, Iloilo.

The 39-year-old cop held the rank of staff sergeant and was assigned to the Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD)-K-9 unit, which holds office at the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) headquarters in Camp Sumagaysay, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

The victim, whose identity was withheld upon the family’s request, died from suicide.

A neighbor found him around 5:30 a.m. of Sunday hanging from the roof of the garage of his house in Purok 1, Pavia, Iloilo.

A rope was tied around his neck and latched on the bamboo trusses.

Dr. Carleone Borda, Municipal Health Officer of Pavia Rural Health Unit, declared him dead.

Major Rolando Araño, Pavia police chief, said they found no signs of foul play in the victim’s death.

There were reports, though, that the victim was suffering from depression.

“Based on our investigation, he’s been having financial and marital problems,” Araño said but he did not elaborate.

Reports claimed that the victim was a Balik-Islam or a Christian who converted to the Islam faith.

He has an only child with his first wife. Their marriage was annulled.

He has no child with his second spouse, an overseas Filipino worker who left for her job abroad last January 2021.

It was not clear what financial problem he was facing, but investigators clarified that it has nothing to do with gambling.

“It appears that all factors have come into play – financial concerns and rocky marriage,” Araño said.

It was learned that the victim, who hails from Leganes town, built a house in Pavia through a loan.

Lately, he’s reportedly been mentally bugged about the financial support for his only child.

Last September 5, an IPPO member also died due to alleged accidental gun discharge. The 39-year-old cop succumbed to a gunshot on the head.

The incident happened around 5 am at the victim’s house at Barangay Cuartero, Jaro, Iloilo City.

On July 20, a rookie policeman was also found lifeless at a secluded area in Miag-ao, Iloilo.

A resident of Barangay Damilisan, Miagao discovered the body of Patrolman Marvin del Castillo, a police trainee detailed at the San Joaquin Police Station.

Del Castillo was part of the Pre-Basic Internal Security Operation Course (BISOC) trainees sent to different police stations in Iloilo province.

Aside from the gunshot injury, no other wound was found on his body.