Suspect reported to be listed on a drugs watchlist
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The suspect in the shooting of Hinigaran municipal police chief, Police Chief Inspector Jake Barila, faces attempted murder charges following the incident that occurred at Hacienda Manlukaw in the town’s Barangay Palayog last Wednesday.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Jr., said the suspect, Davi Ysasi, is still confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) after he was shot in the chest by police.
Barila, meanwhile, is recovering from his wounds at Riverside Medical Center.
Castil also said police conducted a search of Ysasi’s residence and recovered an assorted number of ammunition units, a bullet vest, and gun parts.
Cops also discovered an M18A1 Anti-Personnel “Claymore” mine during the search.
Further investigations by police discovered the suspect was an adopted son of a gun enthusiast and his residence was formerly a camp for an airborne company of special forces.
Law enforcement concluded the ammunition found must have been left behind by government troopers when they abandoned the facility.
Local barangay officials also confirmed Ysasi was on their drugs watchlist as he was suspected to be an illegal drug user.
2nd Provincial Mobile Force commander, Police Chief Inspector Roel Garingalao, also questioned Ysasi’s family as to why they did not hand over the ammunition and explosives found.
Castil, meanwhile, lauded Barila’s action in trying to deescalate the situation by exercising maximum tolerance and due process, despite Ysasi’s violent behavior, resulting in the crisis being resolved without any innocent civilians affected.
Earlier on Wednesday, Barila, along with the station’s special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team, responded to reports Ysasi was allegedly seen by locals acting violently outside their homes and shooting a dog.
Investigators believe the reason for Ysasi’s violence was due to his mother’s refusal to lend him money in order to resolve his debt problems.
During the incident, Ysasi also allegedly mauled his mother and threatened to kill her with a .45 caliber firearm./DGB, WDJ