BONTOC, Mt. Province -- The three suspects in the murder of Police Chief Inspector Benjamin Challoy, chief of the Highway Patrol Group based in this town were behind bars after they were arrested Friday morning, April 28.
Arrested were Gesser Bucad Lumines, 26, married, native of Bananao, Paracelis and resident of Omfeg, Bontoc Ili, Bontoc, Corporal Gerson Bucad Lumines, 28, married, native of Bananao, Paracelis, Mt. Province and member of 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and Sergeant Elvis Wansi Gannisi, 37, married, native of Butac, Natonin, Mt. Province, member of 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
“After the shooting incident, our police has organized a task group particularly on the follow up and case build up and after the burial, we refer the case to the prosecutor and the prosecutor has immediately issued summon against the suspects and the police also helped in the service of the summon. The suspects were given 10 days to submit their counter affidavit and immediately after this period, our prosecutor has filed the corresponding information to the court, that was April 25 to 26,” Mt. Province Provincial Police director Tellio Nigs-o said.
Nigs-o said the court found probable cause and issued a warrant of arrest against the three suspects.
He added that police organized a composite team for the implementation of the warrant of arrest and in the evening from 5 p.m. onwards, the arresting team proceeded to Camp Upi in Gamu, Iasbela.
“At 3 a.m. in the morning of April 28, the warrant of arrest was served to the suspects. They were brought here, they arrived at about 9:30 in the morning and they were subjected to medical examination then we returned the warrant before the issuing judge. We presented the suspects and detention order was issued immediately. At 10 a.m. of April 28, the three suspects were committed to the provincial jail of Mountain Province,” Nigs-o said.
Personnel of the Bontoc Municipal Police Station led by Chief Inspector Jimmy Macues together with Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch and Provincial Intelligence Branch composed the tracker team that traveled to Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela to serve the warrant of arrest.
“We did not waste any time. We hope the family will be satisfied,” added Ngis-o.