Ex-rebel kills aunt over red cellphone case

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police suspect that a red cellphone case triggered a former rebel to harbor bad blood against his aunt, leading him to kill her.

At around 10 p.m. on July 16, fifty-four-year-old Mildred Calansingin and her family were watching television at their home in Barangay Jamog Gines, Leon, Iloilo, when her nephew, Edgardo Calansingin Jr., suddenly barged in.

Edgardo, who lived nearby, pulled a gun and shot the victim.

Captain John Predic Padilla, Leon police chief, said there was no confrontation or altercation between them.

“The suspect just shot her,” he said.

Mildred sustained a gunshot wound to the right back portion of her body.

She was rushed to Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian town but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police responded to the crime scene but did not immediately confront the suspect, who holed up inside the victim’s house with his minor child.

Family members and barangay officials negotiated for his surrender.

At 7 a.m. the following day, the suspect turned himself in, along with the gun he used to kill his aunt.

According to their family, the two had no bad blood until several days ago when the suspect saw the victim’s red cellphone case.

He allegedly took it and set it on fire, as he associated the color red with the rebel group he used to be affiliated with.

The suspect admitted to planning his aunt’s killing.

He also said there were additional reasons for his actions, including the victim commanding his son to do certain things, pawning their two lots, and recently sending a red flag of the Maute Group.

Edgardo is now detained and has been charged with murder and violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).