Authorities have arrested a militiaman allegedly responsible for the killing of a government official in Zamboanga del Sur province on Thursday evening.
In a report released on Friday, Col. Bonifacio Arañas Jr., the Zamboanga del Sur police director, identified the victim as Jesriel Himang, 40, who served as the provincial public information officer (PIO). His girlfriend, Celgwen Arellano, 24, was also wounded in the incident.
“The incident occurred around 11:50 p.m. Thursday at a resort in Purok Puting Balas, Barangay Ambulon, Vincenzo Sagun town,” Arañas stated in the report.
Investigations revealed that prior to the shooting, Himang and the suspect, Reymond Lopecillo, 29, had engaged in a heated argument during a drinking spree at the resort’s function hall. Amid their verbal altercation, Lopecillo, who was serving as Himang’s security escort, suddenly drew his .45-caliber pistol and repeatedly shot the official, inadvertently hitting the victim’s girlfriend in the process.
Family members quickly transported the victims to the Margosatubig Regional Hospital, where Himang was declared dead by the attending physician.
Responding police officers promptly arrested the suspect following the incident.