Police is hoping solution of shooting and arson incident in Labangan town.

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (Jan. 15, 2014 Frontline News) – The Police

authorities are hoping for the possible solution of the shooting and allegedly arson incident in Labangan after the suspect identified by his victim.

The joint operatives of Labangan Municipal Police Station and Provincial Public Safety Company were on manhunt operations against the fleeing identified suspect of shooting incident and a thorough investigation on the allegedly arson incident in Barangay Noboran, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Shooting incident

Labangan Municipal Police Station Chief Senior Inspector Gilzen Niño Regis Manese said the suspect was identified by his victim as alias Victor Galgan, legal age, caretaker of the house of former Labangan Mayor Wilson “Kitty” Nandang located at the same place.

Police Initial investigation disclosed that on or about 8:45 in the evening of January 10, 2014 while the victim Joy Ponce Y Selada, 25 years old and married was sleeping inside her house at Purok Centro Uno of same barangay when the suspect who was armed with a caliber 45 pistol suddenly appeared and asked the victim the where about of her husband.  

However, upon knowing that her husband was not inside the house, the suspect got angry and turn his ire to the victim prompting him to shot the victim three times, police investigator SPO4 Armel Torres said.

The victim sustained three gunshots on her body and was rushed to Zamboanga Del Sur Medical Center for medical treatment while the suspect fled heading towards to unknown direction after the incident.

“We are conducting in-deep investigation to establish the motive behind  the incident while appropriate charges is now being prepared by the investigator for filing the case in court,” Senior Inspector Manese said.

Arson incident

Four residential houses were razed by fire at Purok Nandang, Barangay Noburan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur at about 10:00 o’clock Friday evening January 10, 2014.

Police said the houses are owned by Remedios Surdilla, Jaime Lumusad, Mary Jean Banagan and Florencia B Cotongan and the rest house owned by Wilson Nandang, former Mayor of Labangan.

Arson Investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the property damaged razed by fire worth P2.5 million pesos.

Initial investigation disclosed that prior to the fire happened, there were undetermined number of unidentified armed men were seen by the neighbors at the area, after which, the fire broke-out.  

The fire of unknown origin was started at the residence own by Remedios Surdilla and rapidly spread to another four houses. The house owners were not around when the conflagration occurred. 

Labangan Municipal Police Station is conducting also a follow-up investigation to determine the origin of fire and the identities of the alleged armed men who could be the responsible suspect in setting the fire.