ILOILO City – A police officer assigned in the Jaro police station was tagged a suspect in the murder try of a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent in Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City last week.
Police Patrolman Jake Salgado, resident of Bacolod, and his friend, Jenelyn Manto, face frustrated murder charges relative to the shooting of Intelligence Officer 1 Jayson Yayola, 36, of Barangay Canusa, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on Oct. 5.
The victim and several witnesses positively identified the two.
Yayola was driving his motorcycle when shot.
He sustained three gunshot wounds.
The suspects were onboard a grey-colored vehicle, according to witnesses.
A day prior to the shooting, Salgado reportedly went home after being slapped with a one-month suspension.
Bacolod’s Police Station 9 commander, Major Ritchie Gohee believed the motive was work-related.
Yayola was among the PDEA agents who arrested Salgado’s alleged friend, Romulo Jamanto in a drug sting on Feb. 2 this year in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City.
Salgado and Manto denied shooting Yayola.
In a radio interview, Salgado claimed he was in their house with his mother and girlfriend during the incident. Manto was there, too.
Salgado denied being acquainted with either Yayola or Jamanto.
On the other hand, Police Captain Eduardo Siacon, chief of the Jaro police station, said Salgado was suspended until Oct. 31.
He had an administrative charge after he was caught playing his phone while on duty, according to Siacon.
“Wala sia nag-report since the start of his suspension. Wala man kami ka-talk about his alleged involvement in Bacolod City,” Siacon said.
Before his assignment at the Jaro police station, Salgado was assigned at the Police Regional Office 6’s Police Holding and Accounting Office for a supposed another administrative case./PN
