|
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Police, NBI hunt down massacre suspects
By Roberto L. Bacasong, Christine Mae A. Pelayo and Claudine C. Dumalag
POLICE in Negros Occidental and Bacolod, together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched a joint provincewide manhunt operations to arrest three members of the notorious “Noli Aktor” Akyat Bahay gang tagged in the massacre Tuesday of family members of two police assets.
The killing happened in Bangga Tamburong, La Salleville, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
In what could be considered so far as the most brutal killing in Bacolod City this year, the police, NBI and even the City Government joined forces to hunt down the suspects identified as Benjie Bernabe, alias “Benjie Palma,” 18 and Aris Chicova, alias “Gaga” and “Lelong”, both of Barangay 39, Bacolod; Telesporo Orbano, alias “Gamay”, 21, of Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan; and their still unidentified companion.
They were linked to the murder of victims 26-year-old Jenalyn Buli-buli, six months pregnant; Shirley Mayagma, 32 and her children Cherryl, 5, and Carlo, 1. They were shot dead while sleeping at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday inside their residence.
Armed with .38 and .357 caliber revolvers, the suspects also tried to kill two other victims, Jelly Anne Buli-buli, 2, and Hernie Mayagma, 13, who suffered gunshot wounds.
Jelly Anne sustained gunshot wounds in the chest and is presently undergoing treatment at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod while Hernie is out of the hospital after suffering from minor gunshot wounds.
Random checks
Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director, ordered all provincial police chiefs to conduct manhunt operations against the suspects.
He also directed the conduct of random checkpoints especially in the cities of Talisay, Silay, Bago and La Carlota and Cauayan town.
Urging the police to seal off all entry and exit points in the province and calling the killings as a “classic example of retaliation,” Mayor Luzviminda Valdez said “it was a mercenary killing and (done) without conscience. The intention was to kill the whole family.”
Investigation disclosed that the suspects, at around 2 p.m. Tuesday, went to the house of the police assets, Jorie Buli-buli and Onie Mayagma.
The suspects, who were among the seven “Noli Aktor” gang members arrested by the police Intelligence Branch members headed by Chief Insp. Harold Tuzon a week ago, “retaliated” against the police assets, investigation added.
After learning that the suspects are hunting them down, they went to Tuzon to ask police assistance.
Tuzon then deployed two City Mobile Group patrol cars to scour the area but found no suspect.
At past 10 p.m., the suspects returned to the area and failing to find the two police assets, they shot dead the victims.
Shirley and her two children died on the spot while Jennylyn and her unborn baby died a few minutes after they were brought to the hospital.
Heroic act
Hernie, 13, Oni’s eldest son, pleaded with the suspects to spare them especially his two brothers, aged nine and three.
However, he said, the suspect still pulled off the trigger.
The bullet passed through Hernie’s right palm and penetrated through his left arm but was not able to hit his two younger brothers.
She added his younger sister, 12-year-old Rachel, was sleeping with her aunt in the other room and was spared from the killings.
Investigation disclosed that one of the suspects entered the room of Hernie’s younger sister but his .38 caliber pistol ran out of bullets. When the suspect reloaded his pistol and pulled off the trigger, the pistol jolted.
The victims’ bodies lie in state at Alisbo Memorial Chapels.
No evidence
Tuzon said 18 hours after their arrest last week, the three suspects were released as “there was no hard evidence to pin them down.” He also said the suspects have no pending cases and no complainant was willing to file any case against them.
Three of the triggermen’s companions — Noli Diega, alias “Noli Aktor”, 23, the leader; Azher Chicova, alias “Toto Azer”; and Jun-Jun Barrera, alias “Lupen”, 19, of Purok Igmaya-on, Don Salvador Benedicto are still detained.
“I condemn the massacre that happened to the families of the two assets of the police,” said Valdez.
Valdez also urged the police to give the police assets’ families full protection and security.
She also directed Tuzon to provide assistance and shelter to the victims.
“My directive to them is to take care of the children, provide them assistance and shelter. The city will take care of the funeral and the burial of the victims,” said Valdez.
The mayor further said: “Next time if we have assets and there are threats to their lives because of some technicalities that are not controlled by the police, full protection should be given to them for the safety of the family.”
'Won't give up'
Jorie, who expressed shock over the violence, said he will not stop seeking justice for his and Onie’s family.
Siano, Jorie’s father, on the other hand, said he is very much affected by what happened to his daughter (Jennalyn) and grandchildren.
He said he is leaving the case to the police and to God.
(October 23, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
