3 cops, civilian killed in shooting incident

[Mike J]

How sad.   Maybe had an ankle holster?  I expect alcohol will end up being a contributing factor.

DUMAGUETE CITY – Three police officers and a woman were shot and killed in two separate but related incidents in Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Friday evening.

Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police, said the suspect in both incidents has voluntarily surrendered to authorities.

“PSSg (Police Staff Sgt.) Bonifacio Saycon surrendered about an hour after the shooting incidents to the police in Tanjay City and turned over his issued firearm. He will be subjected to illegal drug testing,” Polinar told the Philippine News Agency.

The fatalities were identified as Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, the police chief of Sibulan town; Senior Master Sgt. Tristan Chua; Patrol Officer Rey Albert Temblor; and Sheila Mae Dinanao.

Initial police investigation showed that Dinanao was first shot by Saycon at a bar in Barangay Tubtobon.

“The three other police officers, who appeared to be with the suspect in the bar, responded and disarmed him, placed him under arrest and took him into custody,” Polinar said.

While en route to the police station in a car, he said, Saycon pulled out a second gun and allegedly shot all his companions before fleeing the scene.

Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo, Tanjay City Police chief, said Saycon arrived at about 10:45 p.m. with his family in a private vehicle and turned himself in.

He was scheduled for paraffin testing and is now detained at the Tanjay Police station.

Polinar said the motives for the two shooting incidents have yet to be determined.

“Witnesses from the bar scene have already surfaced, but what transpired inside the car would be a challenge to investigators, as only Saycon will be the primary source of information,” 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266599

 

[Lee]

There is a video on FB showing the suspect shooting a bargirl in the back of her head that he had been previously been talking to.

The 3 police buds react quickly but they didn't put him on the floor, handcuff him, nor take his weapon away.

They simply led him outside to their car (the suspect stumbles a bit) like you might do if old Uncle Frank had a few too many nips at the family Xmas party.

I'm not posting this video as its a bit graphic. Truly pathetic.

[Gator]

7 hours ago, Mike J said:

The three other police officers, who appeared to be with the suspect in the bar, responded and disarmed him, placed him under arrest and took him into custody,” Polinar said.

While en route to the police station in a car, he said, Saycon pulled out a second gun and allegedly shot all his companions before fleeing the scene.

Those three deaths were totally preventable. Lack of training? Also intoxicated and judgment impaired? Too trusting of their coworker? Shoddy police work is certainly the real cause for their deaths. 

We’ll never know the reason why once taken into custody he wasn’t at least patted down for an another weapon, a handcuff key, or other contraband. The article doesn’t state whether or not he was handcuffed; he should have been. 

[Lee]

16 minutes ago, Gator said:

The article doesn’t state whether or not he was handcuffed; he should have been. 

In the video that I spoke of previously, it appears that he was neither handcuffed nor disarmed.

[Mike J]

16 hours ago, Lee said:

The 3 police buds react quickly but they didn't put him on the floor, handcuff him, nor take his weapon away.

Sounds like a bad case of "PPPP".  Piss Poor Performance and Procedure.

[Joey G]

On 1/9/2026 at 7:16 PM, Mike J said:

The three other police officers, who appeared to be with the suspect in the bar, responded and disarmed him, placed him under arrest and took him into custody,

So they were all drunk... the outcome makes more sense now.

[OnMyWay]

One of the 3 police killed was the chief.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BF7idUR5A/

Police Chief and Two Officers Killed After Being Shot by Fellow Policeman in Negros OrientalA police chief and two other police officers were killed after they were allegedly shot by their fellow officer on Friday night in Barangay Tubtubon, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, according to authorities.The victims were identified as Police Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, chief of the Sibulan Municipal Police Station; Police Senior Master Sgt. Tristan Chua; and Patrolman Rey Albert Temblor. All three were assigned to the Sibulan Police Station.The suspect was identified as Police Staff Sgt. Bonifacio Saycon, also a member of the Sibulan police force, who voluntarily surrendered a few hours after the incident.According to the initial investigation, the first shooting occurred at around 9:35 p.m. inside a bar in Sibulan, where a woman identified as Sheila Mae Dinanao was allegedly shot and killed by Saycon. The officers then took Saycon outside and placed him in a private vehicle.However, while in custody and being transported in a private vehicle toward the police station, the suspect reportedly suddenly opened fire, resulting in fatal gunshot wounds to the three police officers.After the shooting, the suspect fled but surrendered at 10:45 p.m. at the Tanjay City Police Station, where he turned over his issued firearm to authorities.The police investigation is ongoing to determine the true circumstances of the two consecutive shooting incidents, including the suspect's motive and any possible lapses in custodial procedures.The incident has raised significant concern in the community and within the police force, particularly regarding issues of internal discipline, mental health, and firearms control within the police organization.Via Brigada News Dumaguete (Original Cebuano/Bisaya report translated to English; details confirmed and supplemented from multiple Philippine news sources reporting on the January 9, 2026 incident.)
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[Mike J]

9 hours ago, Joey G said:

So they were all drunk... the outcome makes more sense now.

It was still relatively early, between 9-10 pm when the whole fracas started, so hard to say if all/any of them were drunk.  I strongly suspect the guy who shot the waitress was drunk but still sober enough to turn himself in.  I kind of doubt they will do blood alcohol levers on the deceased officers.  You would think police departments would not allow an off duty officer to carry his/her weapon while drinking in a bar.   Alcohol + Carrying a weapon + Insult/Argument/Disrespect = Potential for deadly assault.  

I think many members of the forum know that Filipino men seem to have a very low threshold for violence if they feel disrespected.  That is why I try to avoid any Filipino who seems to be under the influence.