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January 11, 2026 | 12:00am
Forensic investigators collect evidence from the car where three police officers were shot and killed by a colleague in Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Jan. 9, 2026.
PNA / Photos courtesy of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A town police chief in Negros Oriental and his two men were shot dead by a police officer whom they arrested for allegedly killing a woman in Sibulan on Friday night.
Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, chief of the Sibulan police, and his men – Senior M/Sgt. Tristan Chua and Pat. Rey Albert Temblor – died following the incident that occurred in Barangay Tubtubon.
The suspect, identified as S/Sgt. Bonifacio Saycon of the Sibulan police, surrendered to the nearby Tanjay police, according to Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesman for the Negros Island Region (NIR) police.
Video footage of a closed-circuit television camera showed that Cimafranca and his five men including Saycon and the fatalities were celebrating his birthday at the resto-bar.
The woman reportedly joined them at the table.
For still unknown reasons, Saycon allegedly shot the woman, prompting Cimafranca to arrest him.
Two other officers went out to call an ambulance
Probers said that while on their way to the police station in a car owned by Cimafranca, Saycon allegedly drew a gun and shot his superior and colleagues.
Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, NIR police director, created a special investigation team to probe the incident.
Ibay assured the families of the fatalities that the investigation would be fair, based on evidence and free from undue influence.
“There will be no whitewash. The investigation will be transparent and anyone found liable will be held accountable under the law,” Ibay said.
Negros Oriental police director Col. Criscente Tiguelo condemned the incident.
“We honor their courage and dedication in the service of peace and public safety. Their service will continue to inspire our commitment to duty,” Tiguelo said.
Owen de Luna, chief of the National Police Commission-NIR, said the Napolcom would conduct a parallel investigation into the incident.
De Luna said the parallel probe is part of the mandate of the Napolcom to ensure that police are enforcing the law and serving communities with integrity and professionalism. — Emmanuel Tupas
