Silay City: The shooting incident in Silay City, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injured seven others on Election Day, did not disrupt the electoral process in Negros Occidental, stated Commission on Elections (Comelec) – Negros Island Region Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute. “What happened in Silay has not brought any electoral concern; it’s more of a peace and order concern,” he explained.
According to Philippines News Agency, Macute, speaking at the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano, highlighted that the occurrence in Barangay Mambulac happened over a kilometer away from the nearest polling precinct, ensuring that the voting process remained unaffected. “It enhanced the police and the Philippine Army’s presence there. It even added more security to the people voting there. It has no effect on the polling precinct and even less on the other polling precincts farther from the area,” he noted.
Macute also addressed the social media portrayal of the incident, suggesting it had been exaggerated, while affirming that people continued to attend polling precincts. “The police is on top of everything. They have identified the personality of the main suspect and are conducting a thorough investigation,” Macute stated.
Despite the incident occurring on Election Day, Macute confirmed it would be considered election-related violence due to the involvement of political supporters. “Considering that it involves political supporters of particular candidates, it will really count as election-related violence, but as to the effect on the total conduct of the elections, it has little or minimal effect at all,” he clarified.
Initial investigations revealed that suspect Arnie Benedicto, village chief of Barangay Lantad, alongside two unidentified individuals, discharged firearms while passing a political headquarters in Barangay Mambulac at around 7 a.m. Col. Rainerio de Chavez, police provincial director, reported that Benedicto surrendered for investigation to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Monday afternoon.
Col. de Chavez, who leads the Special Investigation Task Group Silay, assured that a comprehensive investigation is underway. The fatalities were identified as Albert Salimbot of Hacienda Macamig Pulo, Barangay E. Lopez, and Ronnie Piedad, 45, of Purok Ipil-ipil, Barangay Mambulac. The wounded individuals included Ruel Espinosa, 42; Ric Ortillano, 46; Wilfredo Cuello, 46; Glenn Gutierrez, 46; Ginray Guitche, 32; Jason Belleza, and Joey Pomares.
