NegOr village chief killing suspect nabbed, love triangle eyed

BACOLOD CITY — Authorities arrested a 32-year-old man over the weekend for his alleged involvement in the killing of 40-year-old Barangay Kansumandig Captain Dennis Jimpayan in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, last week.

Police Col. Jonathan Abella, acting provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said in a media interview that investigators were looking into a crime of passion as a possible motive.

Police are probing a personal grudge stemming from an alleged love triangle as a possible motive in the killing. The suspect was arrested Saturday in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, where he works.

Police Capt. Stephen Polinar, NorPPO spokesperson, said police tracked down the suspect after witnesses identified him. He added that the suspect had no derogatory record.

Murder charges were filed Monday against the suspect through regular filing, Polinar said. He added that police were awaiting the decision of the court or prosecutor’s office on the disposition of the suspect because the arrest was no longer part of a hot pursuit operation.

Jimpayan was reportedly shot dead while riding his motorcycle from Barangay Pacuan toward his home in Barangay Kansumandig on Sept. 23.

Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Emmanuel Iway had earlier offered a PHP 100,000 cash reward for information that could lead authorities to identify and arrest those responsible for the killing.