BACOLOD City – The Silay Component City Police Station in Negros Occidental filed murder and frustrated murder charges against the alleged suspects of the election day shooting that claimed the lives of two persons and injured seven others.
Barangay captain Arnie Benedicto of Lantad and three other unidentified persons were charged on Wednesday, May 14, following the conduct of inquest proceedings before the Silay City Prosecutor’s Office, according to Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR).
As of this writing, Benedicto was in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after he subjected himself to investigation hours after the incident on Monday afternoon, May 12.
Initial investigation showed that Benedicto, along with unidentified men, fired their guns while passing through a political headquarters in Purok Ipil-Ipil, Barangay Mambulac around 7 a.m. on Monday.
The police identified the fatalities as Albert Salimbot, a resident of Hacienda Macamig Pulo, Barangay E. Lopez, and Ronnie Piedad, of Purok Ipil-ipil, Barangay Mambulac.
Wounded were Rowel Espinosa, 34; Ric Ortilano, 42; Welfredo Cuelio, 46; Glenn Gutierrez, 49; Jeffrey Guitche, 36; Jason Belleza, 26; and Joey Pomares, 43.
Following this, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) director Colonel Rainerio De Chavez organized the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Silay to lead the investigation and expedite justice for the victims.
The task group was designed to coordinate all investigative efforts, ensuring a swift and thorough resolution to the case./PN
