By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A senior citizen was arrested by Silay City police after allegedly opening fire at a car wash along the national highway in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, yesterday morning.

Police identified the suspect as 61-year-old Robert ‘Bob’ Jereza, a resident of the said barangay.

Silay City police chief, Police Superintendent Noel Polines, said, based on eyewitness accounts, 29-year-old Roland Isabel was washing his car when Jereza left his home and began shooting with an M16 assault rifle.

Isabel and other nearby bystanders took cover.

No injuries were reported.

Police took Jereza into custody following the incident.

Following a search of his residence, authorities recovered the said firearm, along with a 12-gauge shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol, a 9mm pistol, and a .40 caliber pistol.

The search also yielded several rounds of ammunition.

Polines said Jereza was reportedly suffering from mental illness.

Jereza is currently detained at the Silay City Police Station and faces illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, indiscriminate firing, frustrated homicide, and malicious mischief charges.

The suspect’s family, who reportedly live in Bacolod City, has already been contacted./DGB, WDJ