Suspect in salesman’s rob-slay nabbed
One of the three suspects in the robbery-killing of a salesman in Balasan town was arrested at Sitio Tarog, Brgy. Preciosa, Sara, Iloilo Sunday evening.
Leo Peñafiel, 28, of the said village, was on a drinking binge with his neighbors when policemen found him.
Balasan police chief, Insp. Ramon Coriana, said that witnesses positively identified Peñafiel as the gunman who killed Jose Calauod.
After the incident, Coriana said they presented several pictures of robbery suspects to witnesses, including Calauod’s driver Joel Lapi-an.
The witnesses were one in saying that the gunman fitted the physical description of Peñafiel, who has robbery records in Iloilo province.
During the investigation, probers got nothing from the suspect.
Coriana said that “hardened criminals” like Peñafiel are used to being investigated thus, they knew their way around police questioning.
Despite Peñafiel’s silence, Coriana said they have leads to the identities of his two companions.
Three suspects robbed Calauod, 53, of Brgy. Dulonan, Arevalo, salesman of Panophar Marketing, at Brgy. Malbog, Balasan, shortly before noon Thursday.
When the suspects attempted to seize the bag of the victim, he resisted and they shot him. The bag contained the victim’s cash collection of P70,000.
Calauod was rushed to Balasan District Hospital where he was declared dead.*
