Monday, October 27, 2003
Massacre suspect falls in manhunt
By Roberto L. Bacasong
JOINT operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office-Intelligence Branch and the Candoni Police Station collared one of the four suspects linked to the massacre of four relatives of two police assets Thursday evening.
The massacre took place past 10 p.m. last Tuesday in Bangga Tamburong, La Salleville, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
His arrest came on the same day the 2-year-old daughter of one of the police informants died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
Benjie Bernabe, alias "Benjie Palma", 23, of Sitio Kalamunding, Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, was arrested in his residence, about 15 kilometers away from the town's poblacion.
Operatives led by Chief Insp. Harold Tuzon, Intelligence Branch chief and Chief Insp. Brownito Reunata, Candoni police officer-in-charge, had to travel by "habal-habal", a passenger motorcycle that can accommodate at least eight persons, to locate the suspect.
Tuzon disclosed they had to travel on foot for another three kilometers before they could reach the suspect's house.
Reports indicated that Bernabe did not resist arrest.
Bernabe, along with Aris Chicova, alias "Gaga" and "Lelong", of Talakdan, Cauayan and Telesporo Orbano, alias "Gamay", 21, of Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan, were linked to the murder of family members of police assets Jorie Buli-Buli and Onie Mayagma. Their fourth companion remains unidentified.
The victims were Jorie's wife, Jennalyn, 26, six-months pregnant, Shirley Mayagma, 32 and her children Cherryl, 4, and Carlo, 1.
They were shot dead on the spot while sleeping inside their house.
Jennalyn's daughter, Jelly Ann, 2, who was admitted at the Pedia-Intensive Care Unit of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, also died 6 p.m. Friday.
Denial
In an interview with the media Friday, Bernabe denied any involvement in the killings.
He, along with the other suspects, are believed to be members of the notorious "Noli Aktor" Akyat Bahay gang.
Six of the gang members, including their leader Noli Diega, were earlier arrested. But due to lack of any formal complaint against them, Bernabe and two others were released after the lapse of the 18-hour reglamentary period. The three other members remain in detention.
A teary-eyed Bernabe said he immediately went home to their hometown after their release.
The suspect's father, Eliseo, 46, sought the assistance of Candoni Mayor Jechonias Manzano and the town police chief for his son's safety. The younger Bernabe is presently detained at the lock-up cell of Police Station 7.
Not contented
Jorie's father, Siano, 55, said he is not contented with the arrest of only one of the suspects.
Still, he lauded the efforts of the city police Intelligence branch and Candoni police for arresting one of the "murderers" of his daughter and grandchild. The victims' remains lie in wake at the Alisbo Memorial Chapels.
They will be interred Sunday at the Barangay Handumanan cemetery.
(October 25, 2003 issue)
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