Silay Barangay Captain Tests Positive After Poll Shooting

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Negros Island Region (CIDG-NIR) confirmed that Barangay Lantad Captain Arnie Benedicto tested positive in a paraffin test, linking him to the fatal election day shooting in Silay City on May 12.

The confirmation came during a press briefing Wednesday at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters, more than a month after the shooting killed two people and wounded seven others in Barangay Mambulac during the midterm polls.

Local authorities had previously withheld the test results, stating they would be disclosed only in court proceedings.

CIDG-NIR Director Police Col. Arwin Tadeo said Benedicto, the primary suspect, is facing two counts of murder and seven counts of frustrated murder before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

He remains in CIDG custody while awaiting a court-issued commitment order.

Benedicto, allegedly seen firing shots from a vehicle before fleeing with three companions, surrendered hours after the incident and has not released a public statement.

The identities of the three other individuals remain unknown.

Tadeo said the case is being treated as election-related, although the final classification will come from a designated committee under the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) previously linked the violence to anti-vote-buying efforts and acknowledged the seriousness of the case.

Comelec Chairman Erwin Garcia, during a recent post-election assessment in Bacolod, said the incident should serve as a lesson to all.

Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said Silay City’s election security status may be raised from green to yellow due to the incident, citing its history of election-related violence.

“Silay City’s status in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be affected,” he added.