Two supporters of Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego were killed and seven others were injured in a shooting incident in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, Negros Occidental, 7 a.m. Monday morning.
Barangay Captain Arnie Benedicto of Lantad, Silay City, who was on board a van, and two unidentified cohorts opened fire without provocation while passing through the area based on a testimony of a witness, an initial police report said.
The incident took place in front of a house allegedly used as a headquarters of Team Asenso Silay of mayoral candidate Mark Golez, the police said.
Golez denied that the house was a Team Asenso Silay headquarters.
Lawyer Jose Edward Davila, legal counselof Team Asenso Silay, said Benedicto denied that he was the gunman.
In fact Benedicto has voluntarily surrendered at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office and is willing to undergo a paraffin test, he said.
Gallego said Benedicto was an ally of Golez.
Killed were Albert Salimbot and Ronnie Piedad, 47, of Silay City.
Wounded were Ruel Espinosa, 42; Rick Ortillano, 46; Wilfredo Cuello, 46; Jason Belleza; Joey Pomares; Glenn Gutierrez, 49; and Ginray Guitche, 32, all of Silay City, were transported to Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City, the police said.
Gallego said the victims were his volunteer watchdogs against vote buying who were shot while on the side of a road in front of a house believed to be a headquarters of Team Asenso Silay.
They were in the area to look into reports of alleged vote buying, Gallego said.
Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police director, said they initially have three suspects in the shooting.
Benedicto, who was positively identified by a witness, submitted himself for investigation and was under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, de Chavez said.
Checkpoint operations were established across Silay City and neighboring municipalities to prevent the other suspects from fleeing.
Brig. Gen. Thomas Ibay, Police Negros Island Region directors, condemned the incident and said “the full force of the law is being applied to apprehend the suspects”.
“We assure the people of Silay and the entire region that security forces are fully mobilized to protect our communities, especially during this critical election period”, he said.*