By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – The Silay Component City Police Station in Negros Occidental on Wednesday filed murder and frustrated murder charges against the alleged perpetrators of the Election Day shooting that claimed the lives of two persons and injured seven others.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said Lantad village chief Arnie Benedicto and three other unidentified persons were charged following the conduct of inquest proceedings before the Silay City Prosecutor’s Office.
Benedicto remains in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after he subjected himself to investigation Monday afternoon.
Initial investigation showed that Benedicto, along with unidentified men, fired their guns while passing through a political headquarters in Purok Ipil-Ipil, Barangay Mambulac about 7 a.m. on Monday.
The police identified the fatalities as Albert Salimbot 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.
PRO-NIR Director Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay has designated Col. Rainerio de Chavez, provincial director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, to lead the Special Investigation Task Group Silay conducting a thorough investigation of the incident. (PNA)
