The shooting incidents in Bacolod City rose to eight this month with one person killed and two persons injured on Friday and Sunday, June 17 and 19.
Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 director, has ordered the local police to conduct thorough investigations on the series of shooting incidents, make arrests and file charges against the suspects, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, Bacolod police spokesperson, said Sunday.
Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo Albee Benitez said he and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson are meeting with the city and provincial directors to discuss what is needed to halt the spate of killings.
Asked if he will seek the replacement of Bacolod police director, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, Benitez said that is under review.
“We will see how fast and efficiently they solve the problem”, he said.
A “barker” identified only as Bryan or Drey of Purok Mambulak, Silay City, was shot and killed at Purok Langis, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Gabana said.
The victim, who was at a PisoNet computer shop, sustained gunshot wound on his head and was declared dead by the responding Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office personnel.
Gabana said the “barker” who was not from the area was mistaken for a police drugs informer.
The police have a suspect who is at-large and are ready to file charges against him, he said.
Meanwhile, Richard de Erit Jimenez, 30, was shot on the left foot and Jorem Biron Sibug, 24, was hit by a stray bullet in the stomach at Rizal Street, Brgy 26, Bacolod City, 12:30 a.m. Sunday, PMaj. Ritchie Gohee, Police Station 4 chief, said.
Both are undergoing treatment at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
The suspect PMsgt. Jeff Lozada Desucatan, 37, of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, and assigned at Police Station 2, surrendered to the police and turned over his Glock 17 service firearm.
Desucatan and Jimenez had an old grudge, Gohee said.
Jimenez suspected the policeman of having a relationship with his former live-in partner that apparently is not true, Gohee said.
Witnesses said the two had an argument and the policeman fired his gun but did not aim it at Jimenez, he added.
However, the victim instead of leaving got a bottle and fought back prompting the policeman to shoot him in the foot, the witnesses said.
Sibug was walking near the shooting incident and was possibly hit by a stray bullet fired by the policeman, Gohee said.*