Jail strafing suspects face criminal charges

Criminal complaints for illegal possession of firearms and frustrated murder were filed before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office against the two suspects in the series of strafing incidents of the Talisay City Jail.

Talisay City police chief Jason Villamater said Joseph Troy Briones, 19, and Arjiann Bacus, 21, all residents of the city, were positively identified by the witnesses as the ones responsible for attempting to strafe the city jail in Barangay Maghaway last November 10.

They are also believed to be the same people responsible for the series of strafing incidents earlier. According to Villamater, the jail guards noticed them acting suspiciously when they passed by the jail facility, prompting the guards to stay on alert.

Moments later, the two came back and tried to shoot the gate of the jail facility using a KG-9 machine pistol but the gun malfunctioned. The jail guards fired at them while trying to flee onboard a motorcycle.

The suspects were hit but managed to escape. However, they were arrested in the hospital during a follow up operation.

Briones was arrested in Talisay District Hospital while Bacus was traced to a private hospital in Cebu City where he was also arrested.

Villamater said they are still conducting further investigation to determine the motives of the suspects in strafing the jail facility.

Meanwhile, separate complaints for illegal possession of firearms were filed against Ricky Tan, Cesar Taactaac, and JeoffryTabay, 22, who were also arrested in a chance encounter with the police team pursuing Briones and Bacus.

Villamater said they received reports that the suspects in the strafing of the city jail were found in Barangay Mananga, prompting them to check. The policemen instead found Tan, Taactaac and Tabay.

According to Villamater, Tan was wanted for theft and murder. He said when the policemen arrived at the area, the group of Tan fired at them resulting in a shootout.

Tan was hurt during the encounter. The police seized KG-9 pistol and caliber .22 revolver from their possession.