• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The quadruple murder involving a town police chief, two officers, and a woman on January 9 in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, was attributed by the Philippine National Police to severe alcohol intoxication and personal grudges.
PBrig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, who is the PNP spokesperson, in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, ruled out that the incident was triggered by an argument involving a woman at the bar.
Tuaño disclosed that the gathering followed a post-birthday celebration of the Sibulan police chief (PCapt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca), whose birthday was on January 7, but the post celebration was held on January 9.
The subsequent shooting that killed three police officers allegedly stemmed from the suspect’s belief that his companions were conspiring against him, based on an unsigned statement treated as an extrajudicial confession, according to the PNP.
Authorities clarified that six police personnel were inside SAB Bar at the time of the incident.
The suspect, identified as PSSg Bonifacio Saycon, was initially arrested and disarmed of a caliber .45 caliber pistol, after shooting to death a female bar worker inside the bar.
But the police, according to Tuaño, acknowledged that he was neither frisked nor handcuffed, and was still carrying a Glock 17 pistol.
It was reportedly followed by a dispute, which led to the second shooting.
Two police officers who were trailing on a motorcycle later called for medical assistance, the PNP said.*
