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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Negros Oriental police chief relieved over murder of 3 cops

Negros Oriental police chief relieved over murder of 3 cops

Published Jan 12, 2026 12:48 pm
POLICE Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, assigns Police Col. Lito Patay (left), deputy regional director for operations of PRO-NIR, as officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office. Patay replaced Police Col. Criscente Tiguelo (right), Negros Oriental police director, over the fatal shooting of a police chief and his two colleagues by a police officer in Sibulan, Negros Oriental last week. (Norppo)
POLICE Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, assigns Police Col. Lito Patay (left), deputy regional director for operations of PRO-NIR, as officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office. Patay replaced Police Col. Criscente Tiguelo (right), Negros Oriental police director, over the fatal shooting of a police chief and his two colleagues by a police officer in Sibulan, Negros Oriental last week. (Norppo)
BACOLOD CITY – Police Col. Criscente Tiguelo, Negros Oriental police director, was administratively relieved from his post following the fatal shooting of a police chief and his two colleagues allegedly perpetrated by a policeman in Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Jan. 9.
Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said that Tiguelo was moved to the Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Unit (RPHAU) upon the order of Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director.
Tiguelo’s relief was carried out in line with command responsibility, with the primary objective of safeguarding public trust and ensuring that ongoing processes and inquiries may proceed without interference or perceived influence, the PRO-NIR said.
Police Col. Lito Patay, deputy regional director for operations of PRO-NIR, was designated as officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office to ensure continuity of command, operational stability, and strict supervision of all police units in the province while the administrative process is ongoing.
The PRO-NIR assured the people that police operations and services in the province remain uninterrupted, and that they remain committed to professionalism, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
Police Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, Sibulan police chief, and Police Senior Master Sgt. Tristan Chua and Police Patrolman Rey Albert Temblor were killed by Police Staff Sgt. Bonifacio Saycon.
Saycon gunned down a female bar worker before shooting his colleagues in Cimafranca's car. The suspect surrendered to authorities but remains silent about the shootings.
Malong said they do not know how long Tiguelo's post will remain vacant as the next provincial police director will depend on the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

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Sibulan Shooting Murder Deaths Crime Policemen
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