Policeman, 3 others held for massacre of 3 teens

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – Pangasinan police gave now in their custody a policeman and his three cohorts who allegedly shot dead three teenagers Oct. 14 in Balungao town.
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Chief Supt. Franklin B. Bucayu, Region 1 police director, said police are poised to file murder (three counts) and attempted murder cases against four suspects in the shooting incident in Balungao that night which resulted in the death of three victims, all minors and high school students.

Another student survived unharmed.

In his report to Bucayu, Pangasinan police provincial director Senior Supt. Rosueto V. Ricaforte identified the suspects as SPO2 Loreto Florendo, Domingo de Jesus, Saturnino de Jesus, and Jovito de Jesus (all three are brothers).

The de Jesus brothers were invited for questioning and were brought for paraffin examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory in Urdaneta City.

The report stated the cases were based on the affidavit/statement of three witnesses subscribed by Noel Bince, acting provincial prosecutor.

Police said at about 11:30 p.m. a shooting incident happened at Barangay Raymundo ,Balungao
wherein a group of high school students on their way home after attending a wake in a nearby barangay was fired upon by then unidentified suspects.

This led to the instant death of Bryan Luna, 14; Paul Bryan Villapa, 14 and Mike Sapili, 14.

One Arjay Sobrevilla, 16, managed to escape.

Bucayu said swift action by Pangasinan police led to early identification of the suspects.

Investigation also revealed revenge to be the motive for the killings, based on the testimony of the witnesses who stated that there was old grudge between the perpetrators and a certain ReggyVillapa, father of one of the victims and reportedly a police informant and member of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team of Barangay San Miguel, also of Balungao.

Earlier, another policeman identified as PO1 MunibDalimbang and two cohorts engaged in robbing activities were killed in a shootout with authorities in Pozorrubio town, Pangasinan Oct. 11.

Bucayu said he will not tolerate any wrongdoing of any member of his command. “Disciplinary action will be imposed immediately against erring police personnel in keeping with the 10-Point Action Plan of the PNP chief, particularly on Strengthening the Reward and Disciplinary System,” he added.