ILOILO City – The arrest of two gun-for-hire suspects in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (not Barotac Nuevo as previously reported) should serve as a warning to others engaged in similar activities.
They could be next, said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Two active members of the Philippine Marine Corps were apprehended as suspects in an ambush in Barangay San Fernando, Barotac Viejo on Wednesday.
“Lawless elements are under surveillance. Should they sabotage the peace and order of the province, they will be arrested,” said Tayaba.
Corporal Jessie Ensilay, 31, of Bonbonon, Siaton, Negros Oriental and Sergeant Brian Rey Mullot, 31, of P3 Camp Bagang, Barobo, Surigao del Sur were charged with murder at the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Iloilo Hall of Justice.
“The arrest of the gun-for-hire suspects showed the effectiveness of the deployment of personnel based on the analysis of current crime incidents,” according to Superintendent Joem Malong, chief of the Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) public information office.
Policemen rushed to Barangay San Fernando, Barotac Viejo immediately after learning that retired Philippine Army member Joren Bañas was ambushed and caught Ensilay and Mullot on Sept. 26 past 5 p.m.
The focus of the police in Western Visayas should not be limited to the campaign against illegal drugs but also on the prevention of crimes and increase in crime solution efficiency, according to Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director.
Citing the Crime Incident Recording and Analysis System of the PRO-6’s Investigation Division, Malong said Western Visayas had a total of 1,266 crime incidents from June 1 to Sept. 21 this year.
This was 61.99 percent lower than the 3,331 crimes recorded in the same period last year, according to Malong.
“The decrease in crime incidents is a result of Enhanced Managing Police Operations and the intensified campaign against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tayaba said the capture of Ensilay and Mullot could be the breakthrough the police have been waiting to solve several shootings in the province.
“This could lead to the solution of some cases,” he said.
Ensilay and Mullot were active members of the Philippine Marine Corps assigned with the Headquarters Marines Battalion Landing Team 5 based in Patikul, Sultan Kudarat. Their presence in Iloilo province puzzled the IPPO./PN
