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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Hitman arrested in Sipalay City tied to 13 shooting incidents in Bacolod

Hitman arrested in Sipalay City tied to 13 shooting incidents in Bacolod

Published Sep 25, 2025 10:06 pm
CORONICA (Glazyl Masculino)
CORONICA (Glazyl Masculino)
BACOLOD CITY - Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, revealed that 13 shooting incidents in this highly-urbanized city since 2021 were connected to a suspected gun-for-hire recently arrested in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Coronica said ballistics tests confirmed that three firearms seized from the suspect during a raid two months ago matched evidence collected from the 13 shooting cases.
“We discovered his involvement in gun-for-hire activities, prompting us to request cross-matching of the recovered evidence with the seized firearms,” Coronica said.
He said that the killings of Filipino-Chinese businessman Romy Li on Sept. 9 and church driver Efren Banaglorioso on Aug. 24 are not among the incidents linked to the suspect.
The suspect was identified through intelligence validation, which included photos and names, leading to the issuance of a search warrant.
Despite the breakthrough, Coronica noted that the evidence is not yet sufficient for formal charges, and further investigation is necessary.
He has directed the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU) to review the 13 cases to determine the status of charges or reasons for non-filing.
Some of the cases remain unsolved, and the police have been in touch with the victims’ families as part of ongoing efforts.

Related Tags

Sipalay City Shooting Crime Gun-for-hire Murder Deaths
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