ILOILO – The capture of two gun-for-hire suspects in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo on Wednesday could be the breakthrough that the police have been waiting to solve several shootings in the province, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
“The arrest of these suspects might lead to the solution of some cases,” said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director.
On Sept. 26, the police of Barotac Nuevo caught Corporal Jessie Ensilay, 31, of Bonbonon, Siaton, Negros Oriental and Sergeant Brian Rey Mullot, 31, of P3 Camp Bagang, Barobo, Surigao del Sur.
Both men – active members of the Philippine Marine Corps assigned with the Headquarters Marines Battalion Landing Team 5 based in Patikul, Sultan Kudarat – were suspects in the ambush of retired Philippine Army member Joren Bañas of Barangay San Fernando, Barotac Nuevo.
Bañas was peppered with bullets around 5:25 p.m. on Wednesday in Barangay Santiago, Barotac Nuevo. Though wounded, he was able to fire back at two men riding in tandem on a black motorcycle and hit one of them.
Upon receiving information about the ambush, Barotac Nuevo policemen led by Chief Inspector Joeven Arevalo responded to the area and were able to arrest Ensilay and Mullot.
Recovered from the suspects were two .45 pistols with magazines and live ammunitions, mission orders issued by their respective offices, phones, cash and other personal properties.
Bañas died while being rushed to the Don Ramon Tugbang Medical Center in Barotac Viejo town.
Suspect Ensilay, who sustained gunshot wounds on the abdomen, legs and face, was initially brought to the Barotac Viejo Medical Center then transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City under tight security.
Mullot was detained at the Barotac Nuevo police station.
According to Tayaba, his office received information that the suspects’ group was involved in several shooting cases in the province.
Another person of interest in the ambush, Servando Andrel, was also arrested.
“Kinanta siya ng mga gunmen. Hindi naman huhuli ‘yung pulis natin kung walang kinalaman eh,” said Tayaba.
At the Barotac Nuevo police station yesterday, Andrel, a resident of the town, declined to give a statement to the press.
“Under investigation ‘yan. Kinuha natin siya dahil person of interest siya. Under investigation siya ngayon,” said Tayaba.
The director named a second person of interest, a certain “Major Ducay.”
Yesterday afternoon, Ensilay and Mullot were charged with murder at the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Iloilo hall of Justice.
Andrel, on the other hand, was charged with “murder conspiracy, direct participation ‘yan, principal by direct participation,” said Tayaba.
The ambush could be related to a land dispute, according to the police director./PN
Please be clear is the incident really happen where? Barotac Nuevo or Barotac Viejo? As far as I remember the barrios that you’re mentioning in your report were all in Barotac Viejo not in Barotac Nuevo? So confusing?