DUMAGUETE CITY (Philippines): Three police officers and a woman were shot and killed in two separate but related incidents in Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Friday evening, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police, said the suspect in both incidents has voluntarily surrendered to authorities.
“PSSg (Police Staff Sgt.) Bonifacio Saycon surrendered about an hour after the shooting incidents to the police in Tanjay City and turned over his issued firearm. He will be subjected to illegal drug testing,” Polinar told PNA.
The fatalities were identified as Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, the police chief of Sibulan town; Senior Master Sgt. Tristan Chua; Patrol Officer Rey Albert Temblor; and Sheila Mae Dinanao.
Initial police investigation showed that Dinanao was first shot by Saycon at a bar in Barangay Tubtobon.
“The three other police officers, who appeared to be with the suspect in the bar, responded and disarmed him, placed him under arrest and took him into custody,” Polinar said.
While en route to the police station in a car, he said, Saycon pulled out a second gun and allegedly shot all his companions before fleeing the scene.
Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo, Tanjay City Police chief, said Saycon arrived at about 10:45 p.m. with his family in a private vehicle and turned himself in.
He was scheduled for paraffin testing and is now detained at the Tanjay Police station.
Polinar said the motives for the two shooting incidents have yet to be determined.
“Witnesses from the bar scene have already surfaced, but what transpired inside the car would be a challenge to investigators, as only Saycon will be the primary source of information,” he said. – BERNAMA-PNA
