A retired enlisted man who was suspected to be a war-freak after an assignment in parts of war-torn Mindanao ran berserk in Ubay town about noon time Wednesday killing two persons and in a subsequent turn of events ended the amok’s own death in the hands of responding policemen. It was practically the “first baptism of fire” for newly-minted Senior Police Inspector George Caña, Ubay police chief, who was only assigned in the town last August 8. In an interview Thursday with Cana over Inyong Alagad, DYRD’s top-rated radio program, he said the violence erupted after the suspected amok fired at two boat passengers enroute to Ubay from Bato, Leyte. They were aboard the ferry boat plying the Bato-Ubay route when the two victims were shot at as they were about to disembark from the ferry.

Ubay police identified the suspect as Cornelio Esteroza y Bonghano, 56, retired soldier with the rank of staff sergeant and a resident of San Vicente, Mahaplag, Leyte. The two victims were identified as one Jun-jun Calonia, single of Valencia town who was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ubay hospital. Another boat passenger identified as Antonio Espena y Lenar of Luhang Leyte was also killed by the amok. Empty slugs of unknown calibre was found in the crime scene. A police report said when the shooting flared up at the Ubay pier, a team of Ubay police led by SPO1 Wellie Sarabosing responded . As the policemen arrived, they saw the suspect standing beside a lamppost branding his firearm. As the responding cops tried to accost the suspect, the policemen were fired at by at least five times forcing them to retaliate. In the retaliation, the suspect was wounded and was brought to the Don Emilio del Valle Hospital where he died hours later.