A police officer in Negros Oriental is now facing formal criminal charges after a violent shooting spree that left four people dead, including three of his colleagues.
Inquest Proceedings Begin for Accused Officer
Police Staff Sergeant Bonifacio Saycon was escorted to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Dumaguete City on January 12, 2026 for inquest proceedings. The charges stem from two separate but connected shooting incidents that occurred on the night of Friday, January 9, 2026.
According to Police Captain Stephen Jaynard Polinar, the information officer of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), the cases filed against Saycon are severe. He faces one count of murder for the fatal shooting of Sheila Mae Denauanao inside a bar in Sibulan town. Additionally, he is charged with three counts of qualified direct assault with murder for the killings of his fellow police officers.
Details of the Tragic Night
The victims among the police force were identified as Police Captain Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, who was the chief of the Sibulan Municipal Police Station and reportedly Saycon's superior, Police Patrolman Albert Temblor, and Police Senior Master Sergeant Tristan Joseph Chua. A report from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) revealed the brutality of the attack: Cimafranca and Temblor each sustained two gunshot wounds, while Chua was hit by one. All injuries were fatal and caused immediate death.
The sequence of events began inside a bar in Sibulan. Saycon was drinking with two other police officers when, for reasons still unclear, he shot Sheila Mae Denauanao three times. The two other officers with him, whose identities have not been disclosed, were not harmed in this initial shooting. Their statements have been crucial to the investigation, according to Polinar.
The violence then escalated. Saycon later shot and killed the three police officers inside a vehicle. The motive behind both shootings remains a central question of the investigation, as Saycon has yet to issue any statement to investigators.
Aftermath and Administrative Fallout
The two police officers who were drinking with Saycon have been placed under camp restriction at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office and are facing an administrative investigation. Meanwhile, the PNP organization has provided immediate financial assistance to the families of the three slain officers for burial expenses. However, Polinar clarified that the decision on granting full death benefits rests with the national headquarters at Camp Crame and remains uncertain at this time.
The remains of Sheila Mae Denauanao were transported to Mindanao by her relatives and underwent an autopsy on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
In response to the incident, the Negros Oriental police leadership has implemented stricter measures. Police personnel in the province are now strictly prohibited from entering gambling dens and engaging in illegal activities, in strict adherence to PNP rules. Station commanders have also been directed to conduct daily dialogues with their personnel to reinforce the importance of obeying the law and upholding PNP ethical standards.
The NOPPO has assured the public of transparency regarding the investigation's results. The case against Police Staff Sergeant Bonifacio Saycon is now formally with the courts.
