PRO-NIR on Silay City Shooting Incident, Assures Public that ‘Situation is Under Control’

SILAY CITY – At around 7:00 AM on May 12, 2025, a shooting incident occurred in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, resulting in multiple casualties. Law enforcement authorities from Silay City Component Police Station (CCPS), led by PLTCOL Mark Anthony Darroca, responded swiftly after receiving an emergency call from a concerned citizen.

Initial investigations indicate that Arnie Benedicto, Barangay Chairman of Barangay Lantad, Silay City, along with two unidentified cohorts, opened fire without provocation while passing through the area. The incident resulted in seven male victims, including two unidentified individuals declared dead on arrival (DOA) and five others injured, including Rick Ortillano, a resident of the barangay.

The wounded victims were immediately rushed to Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital for medical attention. The suspects fled the scene, prompting a coordinated hot pursuit operation led by Silay CCPS.

In response to the incident, Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) immediately implemented the following measures to ensure public safety and law enforcement continuity:
• Investigators were dispatched to the scene to collect evidence and conduct witness interviews.
• Wounded victims were transported to the hospital for immediate medical care.
• Checkpoint operations were established across Silay City and neighboring municipalities to prevent suspect escape.
• A Legal Officer was assigned to assist Silay CCPS in case buildup and coordination with prosecutors.
• The Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was deployed to reinforce Silay CCPS in ongoing manhunt operations.
• The Chief of Police and Provincial Director are physically present and supervising ground operations.
• The Regional Election Monitoring and Action Center (REMAC) is providing real-time updates to the National Headquarters (NHQ) via Discord and Zoom.
• Additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain peace and ensure the smooth flow of elections in the area.

PRO-NIR Director, PBGEN ARNOLD THOMAS C IBAY assures the public that the situation is under control, and all necessary actions are being undertaken to bring the perpetrators to justice and maintain peace in the community.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence. The full force of the law is being applied to apprehend the suspects. We assure the people of Silay and the entire region that security forces are fully mobilized to protect our communities, especially during this critical election period,” PBGEN IBAY stated.

Updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.*