MARADA mugshot
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The lone suspect in the shooting of a former policeman on Thursday, Oct. 30, in Bansud, this province, is now under the custody of the police after he voluntarily gave himself up to local authorities.
Major Clyde B. Kalyawen, chief of the Bansud Municipal Police Station, said the suspect surrendered to Mayor Ronaldo M. Morada after almost six hours of negotiations.
Morada, in close coordination with Kalyawen’s team, facilitated the surrender by tapping local networks that eventually convinced the suspect to yield to authorities.
Kalyawen said the suspect allegedly shot former Police Executive Master Sgt. Elmar Sumo at around 7:17 a.m. on an irrigation road.
The victim was driving his Toyota Fortuner together with his wife when the suspect fired at him, hitting him on his left shoulder.
Sumo survived while his wife was unhurt.
Probers are looking into several angles that could establish the motive of the crime, including personal grudge.
“The voluntary surrender of the suspect demonstrates the success of our collaborative approach to peacekeeping,” said Kalyawen.
"We extend our gratitude to Mayor Morada for his unwavering leadership, compassion, and firm resolve that encouraged a peaceful resolution to what could have been a prolonged pursuit."
Morada commended the professionalism of Bansud MPS and reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to supporting the PNP in all peace and order undertakings.
“Once a police officer, always a peacekeeper. The best victories are those achieved without violence, guided by reason and respect for the law. Our mission remains clear - to keep every Bansudeño safe and confident in the strength of our police and local government," Morada said.
The suspect is under the custody of Bansud MPS while appropriate charges are being prepared for filing before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.