Third Silay poll shooting suspect arrested

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — After a year, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region has accounted for three suspects in the deadly shooting during the May 12, 2025, local elections in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO-NIR spokesperson, said authorities arrested alias Clar, 43, of La Castellana town, in Barangay Rizal, Silay City, on Thursday by virtue of arrest warrants for six counts of frustrated murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The warrants were issued by a Regional Trial Court in Silay City on April 16.

The court recommended a total bail of PHP 1.4 million, according to Police Lt. Col. Edison Garcia, chief of the Silay City Police Station.

According to PRO-NIR, the accused and his co-accused, who were allegedly affiliated with an opposing political group, reportedly figured in a heated altercation with members of another party during the election period in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City.

The confrontation allegedly escalated into a shooting incident, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to eight others.

Initial police reports after the May 12, 2025, shooting said two people were killed and seven others were wounded in Barangay Mambulac during the midterm elections.

Police classified Clar as the No. 1 most wanted person at the regional level.

His arrest followed the apprehension of alias Joseph, 32, also of La Castellana, who was caught in Barangay 4, Silay City, on April 29.

Joseph, tagged as the No. 2 most wanted person at the city level, was also served the same warrants related to the incident.

Garcia said the two suspects were charged based on their alleged participation in the crime but did not elaborate further.

Police have also not determined why the suspects were in Silay City despite being residents of La Castellana.

Barangay Lantad, Silay City, village chief Arnie Benedicto, who was tagged as the primary suspect in the incident, surrendered to authorities a few hours after the shooting.

Malong said Benedicto was charged with murder.

Police earlier said witnesses allegedly saw Benedicto firing a weapon before fleeing with his companions aboard a van he was reportedly driving.

Malong said Benedicto remains under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros Occidental.

Benedicto has not issued any statement regarding the allegations.

While police suspect the motive was politically driven, the exact cause of the conflict remains unclear.

Meanwhile, the regional police office said the operations marked a significant accomplishment in its pursuit of fugitives and demonstrated its resolve to ensure that individuals facing criminal charges are brought before the bar of justice.