TWO men were killed while seven others were injured in a shooting incident in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, Negros Occidental on Monday morning, May 12, 2025.
Police identified the fatalities as Albert Salimbot, of Hacienda Macamig Pulo and a resident of Barangay E. Lopez, and Ronnie Piedad, 45, a resident of Zone 7, Purok Ipil-Ipil, Barangay Mambulac.
Injured were Ruel Espinosa, 42, of Talisay City; Ric Ortillano, 46, of Barangay Mambulac; Wilfredo Cuello, 46, a resident of PLDT Baybay; Jason Belleza, of Barangay E. Lopez; Joey Pomares, of Barangay Mambulac; Glen Gutierrez, 49, of Barangay Guinhalaran; and Ginray Guitche, 32.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark.Anthony Darroca, chief of Silay City Police Station, said the victims were having coffee beside the road when unidentified men on board a vehicle fired at them several times.
The victims, who were allegedly supporters of Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. They were brought to Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Hospital, but Salimbot and Piedad did not survive.
Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) records showed one of the suspects were identified as Arnie Benedicto, village chieftain of Barangay Lantad, Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The police are still conducting a followup operation to arrest the suspects.
In a statement, Gallego condemned the killing of the two victims and noted that seven others were also injured in the incident.
Gallego said the victims were in the area to monitor the possible vote buying.
The mayor urged their supporters to stay calm and respect the result of the elections.
Silay City mayoral candidate Mark Golez also condemned the violence that transpired in Barangay Mambulac, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and injuries to others.
Lawyer Jose Edward “Chickoy” Davila, legal counsel of Team Asenso Silay, in a statement, said: "As legal counsel for Golez, I speak for and on behalf of Team Asenso Silay in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the violence that transpired this morning in Barangay Mambulac.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. We reiterate our unequivocal call for peaceful, honest, and orderly elections. Violence has no place in a democratic process where the will of the people must prevail—not fear, intimidation, or brute force," Davila said.
He added that it must be emphasized that this tragic incident did not happen in a vacuum.
"Just yesterday, multiple supporters of Team Asenso Silay reported harassment by individuals identified as supporters of the incumbent Mayor in Barangay Guinhalaran, including attempted forcible seizure of personal belongings," Davila said.
He said alarming reports were also made to authorities about a white van with no conduction sticker and covered license plates, which was spotted in both Guinhalaran and Barangay 2, Silay City, where another tension-filled incident occurred last night.
"I, the undersigned, personally responded to the latter to help deescalate the situation, which involved attempts by the incumbent’s personnel to enter private property -- again involving the same suspicious white van," he added.
Davila also called on the Philippine National Police, Commission on Elections and all relevant authorities to impartially and immediately investigate not just the shooting itself, but the series of clear and reported incidents that preceded it.
He said the lives lost demand justice, the people of Silay deserve protection, and the integrity of the elections demands accountability. (MAP)