Cops nab 2 marine commandos after gun-for-hire job in Iloilo
By Aaron Recuenco
Police have arrested two members of the military’s elite Philippine Marine Corps for allegedly moonlighting as guns-for-hire in Barotac Viejo town in Iloilo.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), said the arrest of the two Marine commandos assigned to Mindanao came shortly after they allegedly gunned down a businessman.
Bulalacao identified those arrested as Sergeant Brian Rey Mullot and Corporal Jessie Ensilay, both assigned to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 5 (MBLT-5) based in Sultan Kudarat.
“We suspect that they are engaged in gun-for-hire activities. They were riding a motorcycle when they attacked the victims,” he said.
Investigation showed that around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle opened fire at an Elf truck in Barangay Poblacion, Barotac Viejo, hitting businessman Joren Banas, who was the apparent target; and Pebe Barabona, the truck driver.
But Banas surprised the assailants when he pulled out a gun and fired back, hitting Ensilay.
Bulalacao said Banas was later declared dead at a nearby hospital.
Responding policemen arrested Mullot and the wounded Ensilay, who is now confined at the Barotac Viejo District Hospital under tight guard by police.
Seized from Ensilay were a .45 pistol, identification cards, mission orders, acknowledgement receipt of equipment (ARE), camouflage mask and cellphone.
Mullot, on the other hand, yielded a .45 pistol, a mission order, acknowledgement receipt of equipment (ARE) and assorted identification cards.
Bulalacao said the arrest of the two soldiers was a result of his order to all police commanders to be proactive in solving cases perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals other than being alert against possible Communist Terrorist Group attacks.
Bulalacao said he already ordered an investigation to determine why the soldiers engaged in gun-for-hire activities and who hired them to kill Banas.
