Manhunt launched vs men in shooting incident

NEGROS Occidental Police Provincial Director Allan Guisihan ordered a manhunt for the two suspects who reportedly sought refuge in the province after figuring in a shooting incident inside the mining site of Calagnaan Island Agro Industrial Corp. (CIAIC) in Carles, Iloilo last Sunday.

Guisihan said he has also instructed police forces in the province to arrest the suspects on sight.

A security guard and a miner were killed in the said incident. The fatalities were identified as George Torres of Global Security Agency, a native of Balasan, Iloilo; and CIAIC employee Dante Villanueva.

The suspects were identified as Cocoy Jucson of Compostela Valley and Jojie Belmonte of Manapla, Negros Occidental, both were reportedly recommended by Guisihan as bodyguards to CIAIC owner Eric Lacson, reportedly a resident of Bacolod.

Guisihan clarified he did not provide the two suspects as bodyguards for Lacson. He said Hucson is a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade but he pointed out that the group has nothing to do with the latter’s work in the said mining firm.

Guisihan said Hucson, who is unemployed, asked his help to find a job to sustain his family. He added that Belmonte is from Compostela Valley who has knowledge about mining and asked his help, too, to look for a job.

Both were recommended by Guisihan to work in the mining firm of Lacson but not as bodyguards.

Guisihan said he just wanted to help the two find employment.

Based on Carles police reports, Torres confronted Belmonte for not wearing his ID while inside the mining site. An irate Belmonte allegedly fired the M16 Armalite rifle, prompting Villanueva to intervene but was shot by the former.

Jucson reportedly joined the fray and fired his Uzi machine pistol.

Belmonte and Jucson allegedly fled to Manapla after commandeering a pump boat owned by a police officer stationed at the island.

Guisihan appealed to the two to turn themselves into the authorities and face the consequences of their actions.

He also said they are investigating where the firearms used by Jucson and Belmonte came from.