Sunstar: Charges filed against Bro Eddie's son for soldier's death

Criminal charges were filed against a son of Jesus Is Lord evangelist Eduardo "Brother Eddie" Villanueva in connection with the May 4 shootout in Bocaue, Bulacan, that resulted in the death of a soldier. Estrelita Pataray, widow of the 34-year-old Corporal Leonardo Pataray, who was killed during the shootout, filed murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against Eduardo "Jon Jon" Villaneuva Jr., a mayoral candidate in Bocaue, his security escort Francisco Villa and other still unidentified suspects. "From police investigation of the Bulacan police, one of the armed men who shot my late husband was Francisco Villa and that there were other armed John Does who conspired in the killing of my late husband and the shooting of other comrades or soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army," she said. She said the death of her husband was attended with treachery and in conspiracy with armed men who shot at his comrades. About 11 soldiers from the Army's 7th ID also joined as complainants against Villanueva. The complainants - Corporals Joselito dela Cruz, Roland Marvin Dagupon and Elpidio Sagucio Jr.; Privates First Class Joseph Fernando Agorilla and Jonathan Correa; and Private Arnel Manuel and Ariel Cabalquinto of the 3rd IB, 7th ID PA - have positively identified Villanueva as the one who allegedly ordered Villa and the other unidentified suspects to open fire. In their affidavit, the soldiers contradicted Villanueva's claim that the shootout, which led to the fatal shooting of Pataray, was provoked by his men who were removing campaign posters of Villanueva. - Sunstar