The policeman detained for the violent shooting spree on Friday that left three fellow officers — including a police chief—and a female civilian dead in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, faces criminal and administrative charges.
PSSgt. Bonifacio Saycon, a member of the Sibulan Police Station, surrendered to authorities after killing Sibulan police chief Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, SMSgt. Tristan Chua, Pat. Rey Albert Temblor, and a civilian identified as Sheila Mae Dinanao, the Philippine National Police-Negros Island Region (PNP-NIR) reported on Saturday, Jan. 10.
It was Cimafranca’s birthday on the nigh he was killed.
Saycon, Cimafranca, Chua, Temblor, and two other police officers were at the SAB Resto Bar in Barangay Tubtobon when the violence began, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO NIR director, said at a press conference on Saturday.
Ibay said Saycon first opened fire on Dinanao, an employee at the resto bar, at approximately 9:35 p.m. for a motive that has yet to be determined.
She was shot multiple times causing her instantaneous death, the PNP NIR report said.
The PNP-NIR report said that prior to the shooting, the suspect and the other police officers were seated on a couch with the victim.
Without any apparent provocation, Saycon suddenly shot Dinanao multiple times, causing her instantaneous death, it said.
Witnesses saw Saycon, Cimafranca, Chua, and Temblor boarding a car together after the incident.
Their two other companions reportedly left on a motorcycle and went to a Rural Health Unit to ask for an ambulance to pick up the first victim, Ibay said.
The two policemen will also be investigated, he said.
The Sibulan Municipal Police Station dispatched responding units. Upon arrival at the bar, officers were informed of the direction the car with the suspect had taken. They followed the route and eventually discovered a Mitsubishi Lancer, owned by Cimafranca, parked on the roadside.
Inside the vehicle, responding units found the bodies of the three slain police officers.
At around 10:40 p.m. Friday, Saycon voluntarily surrendered to the Tanjay City Police Station and was subsequently turned over to the Sibulan Police Station.
Ibay has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to probe the Sibulan incident. He said the PRO NIR is committed to a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation.
“There will be no whitewash,” Ibay stated, asserting that anyone found liable will be held strictly accountable under the law.
He further reminded the force of standing regulations, noting that policemen are strictly prohibited from entering resto-bars with firearms unless they are conducting a legitimate police operation.*