DARROCA (right) and RR. (Glazyl Masculino)
BACOLOD CITY - A 24-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawad (councilor) from Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental surrendered to the police on Friday, July 11, over his alleged involvement in random shooting incidents in Silay City, Negros Occidental that wounded three persons on Thursday, July 10.
Police Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, Silay police chief, identified the official as RR.
Darroca said that a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage helped authorities identify the two suspects on a motorcycle.
RR was initially tagged as the gunman but further investigation suggested that he was the motorcycle driver, and his companion identified as Mark, 34, of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental was the alleged gunman.
RR appeared before the members of the media in a press briefing at the police station on Saturday, July 12, to clarify his side on the incident.
RR said that he was fetched by Mark from his home and was supposed to go to Barangay Sum-ag here to get his motorcycle on Thursday.
He said that he did not know his companion would be firing shots randomly to individuals on the road.
“I was surprised with his action. Because of fear, I drove fast. I did not know he was armed and I apologized for what happened,” RR said in a local dialect.
RR said that he only knew Mark for about a year when the Mark visited his motorcycle shop in Victorias City as a customer.
Darroca speculated that RR might have been exploited by Mark.
RR denied that they were under the influence of illegal drugs when the incidents happened. But he admitted that he had used contraband.
Darroca said that Mark was killed in a police buy-bust operation in Barangay Burgos, Cadiz City on Friday night.
Police recovered a .45 caliber firearm and suspected shabu valued at P136,000 from Mark.
Darroca said they will subject the recovered firearm to examination to determine if it was used in the Silay shootings.
Police said it turned out that Mark was also the same person they were looking for alleged involvement in the Silay shootings.
Darroca said Mark was involved in carnapping incidents and a noted drug personality in Cadiz City.
RR faces frustrated murder charges and is detained at the Silay police station.