Charges slapped against man in Calamba carnage

MANILA, Philippines - Local authorities in Laguna province on Friday formally filed three separate complaints against a former Philippine Constabulary sergeant tagged as a suspect in the shooting rampage that killed eight people and wounded nine others in Calamba City. A GMA Flash Report quoted Superintendent Nestor dela Cueva, Calamba City police chief, as saying that the local police had prepared the complaints against former police sergeant Florencio Peria before the prosecutor’s office. The charges include multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms. The complaints stemmed from the shooting rampage allegedly staged by his caretaker, Bernabe Fiesta, using the former policeman’s firearm. Eight people, including five children, from two families in Barangay (village) Hornalan, Calamba were killed before dawn Monday. Earlier reports said Fiesta sprayed bullets into the houses because he was being bullied by the village people. Barely two days after the massacre, Fiesta was killed in an alleged shootout with the local police. The third complaint against Peria stemmed from police records showing that he only had a 45-cal pistol registered with authorities and that he illegally possessed the M16 rifle used in the shooting spree. Peria had previously admitted that the long firearm belonged to him but insisted that it was taken away from him without permission by Fiesta. - GMANews.TV