• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Detained PSSg Bonifacio Saycon is facing multiple murder charges for the death of his three colleagues and a woman on Jan. 9 in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday ordered a thorough investigation into the grisly shootings.
Killed were PCapt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, chief of Sibulan Municipal Police Station, and two other policemen, PSMS Tristan Chua and Patrolman Rey Albert Temblor, as well as civilian Shiela Mae Dinaonao.
Nartatez directed the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) to conduct a thorough investigation into all circumstances surrounding the incident, saying there must be no cover-up.
PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, immediately ordered the activation of a special investigation task group to handle the case and ensure that a probe is thorough, evidence-based, and free from undue influence.
“There will be no whitewash. This investigation will be conducted with full transparency, and anyone found liable, will be held accountable under the law,” Ibay said.
Initial investigation showed that Saycon, who was in the company of Cimafranca, Chua, and Temblor inside the SAB Resto Bar, allegedly shot Dinaonao without any provocation at about 9:35 p.m.
The woman died on the spot.
After the initial shooting, Saycon and the three police officers were seen boarding a vehicle together.
Members of the Sibulan Municipal Police Station, who responded to the shooting incident, later discovered the Mitsubishi Lancer owned by Cimafranca parked on the roadside in front of Toyota showroom in Barangay Tubtubon.
Cimafranca, Chua, and Temblor were found injured inside the vehicle and all of them were declared dead at the nearest medical facility.
At about 10:40 p.m., Saycon surrendered to the Tanjay City Police Station.
The motive of the two shooting incidents are still being established by the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Saycon, who is detained at the Sibulan Municipal Police Station, is undergoing custodial investigation, inquest proceedings, and administrative processing.
In a statement, Nartatez ordered all unit commanders to enforce stricter supervision and discipline among their personnel.
He emphasized that commanders at all levels are accountable for monitoring their men and must act decisively on any misconduct.
“Command responsibility applies at all levels and failure to enforce standards will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.
“All PNP personnel are reminded that they are expected to remain physically, emotionally, and psychologically fit to perform their duties at all times,” Nartatez added. | GB
