By JEN BAYLON
Two individuals died while seven others sustained injuries in a shooting incident at Barangay Mambulac in Negros Occidental’s Silay City yesterday morning, election day.
The fatalities were identified as Albert Salimbot from Barangay E. Lopez’s Hacienda Macamig Pulo, and 45-year-old Ronnie Piedad from Zone 7 in Barangay Mambulac’s Purok Ipil-Ipil.
They were declared dead on arrival at a government hospital, police said.
The injured were 42-year-old Ruel Espinosa, 46-year-old Ric Ortillano, 46-year-old Wilfredo Cuello, 46-year-old Glenn Gutierrez, 32-year-old Ginray Guitche, Jason Belleza, and Joey Pomares.
They were brought to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City but were transferred to a private hospital in Bacolod City.
Based on a police investigation, the suspect, Barangay Lantad village chief Arnie Benedicto, along with two unidentified men, fired their guns at the victims while passing through a political headquarters in the village at about 7:00 a.m.
The victims, who were reportedly monitoring vote-buying in the area, were having coffee at the time of the incident.
Authorities have launched a hot pursuit operation to apprehend the suspects.
Hours after the incident, Benedicto surrendered to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Team Asenso-Silay’s legal counsel Jose Edward Davila said.
Benedicto denied involvement in the shooting, stating he was willing to undergo a paraffin test.
Under control
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, director of the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), assured the public that the situation is under control.
“All necessary actions are being undertaken to bring the perpetrators to justice and maintain peace in the community. The full force of the law is being applied to apprehend the suspects,” Ibay said in a statement.
The PRO-NIR has dispatched investigators to the scene, established checkpoint operations, deployed a quick reaction team to reinforce the Silay City Police Office, and assigned a legal officer to assist with case buildup and coordination with prosecutors.
PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Colonel Joem Malong said the shooting was an “isolated incident,” adding they could not say yet if it was election-related, as investigations are still ongoing.
‘Cowardly attack’
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego condemned the election day shooting incident, stating that “violence is a grave injustice to every decent and law-abiding Filipino.”
“I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. Violence has no place in our community — especially not when used to silence those who seek truth, fairness and accountability,” Gallego said in a statement yesterday.
He has already directed local police force to fully cooperate with national authorities and expedite the investigation into the incident.
“We will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are brought to justice. To those responsible: The law will catch up with you, and the people will not forget,” he added.
Davila also condemned the violence and reiterated calls for peaceful, honest and orderly elections.
They highlighted reports of harassment and suspicious activity involving a white van prior to the shooting and called for an impartial investigation by the police, Commission on Elections, and relevant authorities./JB, WDJ