• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Suspected gunmen in the shooting of an Army soldier were arrested by the police Monday, Feb. 17, during a pursuit operation at Sitio Takas in Brgy. Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
The suspects, identified as Joebert Gimarangan, alias Jojo, and Alfie Raganas, alias Dondon, were arrested by members of the San Carlos City Police almost 20 minutes after the shooting incident.
Recovered from the possession of Gimarangan were a Remington caliber 45 pistol with four magazines containing 24 ammunition, a gun holster, P402 in cash, a sling bag and a motorcycle helmet, according to the police.
Also seized from the possession of Raganas were a fragmentation grenade, a KG 9 automatic pistol with a magazine, a motorcycle helmet, about 162.67 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1,106,156 and 2.47 grams of dried marijuana leaves.
Personal grudges are being looked into by the San Carlos City police as motive in the shooting of the victim, identified as Alfort Tito, a member of the Philippine Army and a resident of Brgy. Bato, Sagay City.
Tito suffered three gunshot injuries but is now in stable condition, according to 1Lt. Dan Carlo Somoza, chief of the 79IB Civil Military Operation.
Based on initial information, Somoza said the shooting incident was a case of “mistaken identity” as the victim was riding in a motorcycle, wearing a helmet and in civilian clothes, when he was shot.
The victim was on his way to San Carlos City to buy medicines when the incident took place.
Somoza also said that the incident was not job-related or initiated by the New People’s Army. | GB
