• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has successfully accounted for all three suspects linked to the deadly May 12, 2025, election day shooting in Silay City, Negros Occidental, that left two campaign volunteers dead and seven others wounded.
The breakthrough comes following the arrest on Thursday of the final remaining fugitive, identified by authorities as alias ‘Clar.’
Clar, 43, a resident of Barangay Robles, La Castellana, was captured by police on May 28 at Purok Paho in Barangay Rizal, Silay City. He is facing six counts of frustrated murder and two counts of attempted murder.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 40 in Silay City set his total bail at P1.4 million. Clar was listed as the number one most wanted person in the entire Negros Island Region, according to regional police spokesperson PLt. Col. Joem Malong.
Malong disclosed on Friday that the second suspect, alias ‘Joseph,’ was apprehended a month earlier on April 29, by law enforcement in Hacienda Grande, Barangay Robles, La Castellana.
Joseph was ranked as the number two most wanted fugitive by the Silay City Police Station.
The third individual linked to the crime, Lantad Barangay Captain Arnie Benedicto, surrendered to the authorities immediately following the incident last year.
The three suspects were allegedly involved in the shooting of nine Team Ugyon volunteers of Mayor Joedith Gallego during the May 12 elections last year at Purok Ipil-Ipil in Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region described the arrest of Joseph and Clar as a significant milestone in its ongoing campaign against fugitives, emphasizing its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at locating and apprehending individuals who evade justice.
It added that the successful operation underscores the regional police force’s determination to strengthen public safety, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that those facing criminal charges are brought before the courts to answer for their alleged offenses.*
