BONTOC, Mtn. Prov.– The three suspects in the murder of Police Chief Inspector Benjamin Challoy, chief of the Highway Patrol Group based in Bontoc, Mountain Province are now behind bars after they were arrested in the wee hours of April 28, 2017.
The arrested suspects are Gesser Bucad Lumines, 26, married, native of Bananao, Paracelis, Mtn. Prov. and resident of Omfeg, Bontoc Ili, Bontoc; Cpl. Gerson Bucad Lumines, 28, married, native of Bananao, Paracelis, Mtn. Prov., member of 5th MIB, 5TH ID of the Philippine Army and Sgt. Elvis Wansi Gannisi, 37, married, native of Butac, Natonin, Mtn. Prov., member of 5th MIB, 5TH ID of the Philippine Army.
PNP Provincial Director Police Senior Supt. Tellio Ngis-o of Mountain Province disclosed in an interview April 28, 2017, “Immediately after the shooting incident, our police had organized a task group particularly on the follow up and case build up and after the burial, we refered the case to the prosecutor and the prosecutor immediately issued summons against the suspects and the police also helped in the service of the summons. We did through personal service. So the suspects were given ten days to submit their counter-affidavits and immediately after this period, our prosecutor filed the corresponding information with the court, that was April 25 to 26.”
“The court finding probable cause on April 27 particularly at 4 PM, it issued the corresponding warrant of arrest against the three suspects. Immediately, we organized a composite team for the implementation of the warrant of arrest. In the evening from 5PM onwards, our arresting team proceeded to Camp Upi in Gamu, Iasbela.”
“At 3 AM in the morning of April 28, the warrant of arrest was served with the suspects. They were brought here, they arrived at about 9:30 in the morning and they were subjected to medical examination then we returned the warrant before the issuing judge. We presented the suspects and a detention order was issued immediately. At 10 AM April 28, the three suspects were committed to the provincial jail of Mountain Province.”
The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Joseph Patnaan, Presiding Judge of RTC, Branch 35, Bontoc, Mountain Province docketed as Criminal Case Number 2017-4-26-30 for the crime of murder with no bail recommended issued on April 27, 2017 and received by Bontoc MPS on same date.
The said crime was committed at about 9:46 o’clock PM of April 2, 2017, along the municipal road fronting Challoy‘s residence, at Sitio Eyeb, Poblacion, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Personnel of the Bontoc Municipal Police Station led by the chief of police, Police Chief Inspector Jimmy Macues together with PIDMB and PIB composed the tracker team that traveled to Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela to serve the warrant of arrest.
The suspects’ documentation at Mountain Province Police Provincial Office and commitment at the District Jail of Mountain Province was witnessed by this writer.
Two of the suspects declined to be interviewed after they were committed to the district jail.
In the interview with Ngis-o, he said in closing, “In so far as the police is concerned, we did our very best. So from the time of incident, the case we considered as solved after 26 days. So we did not waste any time. We hope the family will be satisfied.”
“And of course we are very very thankful to the government officials, municipal officials of Bontoc, municipal officials of Natonin and Paracelis who were very supportive and to the residents of Bontoc in adhering to the legal process. We understand their sentiment. We always explain to them that doing other things will not be helpful in this case. So far we did it and we ended in the arrest of these suspects.”, he added.** Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
