BACOLOD CITY – The elder brother of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is running for councilor here, was found dead with a gunshot wound Saturday morning at his residence in Fortuna Subdivision, Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Andres “Andy” Leonardia, 62, sustained a head injury from a bullet of a .45 caliber pistol, investigators said.

Supt. Rosauro Francisco, chief of Silay City Police Station, said in a radio interview  their initial investigation showed that Leonardia’s  death was caused by an accidental discharge of his firearm contrary to reports that the victim committed suicide.

His family said Leonardia did not have a motive to end his own life, the police chief added.

Before he was found dead, Leonardia withdrew cash from an automated teller machine and ate breakfast when he arrived home.

His son, who also stays at their Silay residence, and his driver did not notice anything unusual about him, police said.

At around 9:30 p.m., a gunshot was heard from Leonardia’s room and when his son checked on him, he saw his father on the floor with a gunshot wound on the head. 

Leonardia’s remains were cremated Saturday night after a mass held by his family. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday.

Leonardia, a widower, is a former general manager of VMC Rural Electric Service Cooperative Inc. in northern Negros.

He filed his certificate of candidacy for councilor under the  Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso, a local coalition headed by his mayor-brother, who is running for congressman in the May 2013 elections.*NLG