Multiple charges for murder, frustrated murder and robbery were filed before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday against four men tagged in the fatal shooting of a policeman and the injury of two others at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex Sunday.

City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said the charges were filed against Ramir Arceña, “alias Kid Ramir”, Lino Cuadra, “alias Dodoy”, and their two unidentified companions, who remain at large.

Police Officer 2 Arnold Cañal, 44, of Regent Pearl Homes in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod and member of the Regional Intelligence Division-6, died while being treated at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center from five gunshot wounds after Arceña shot him with his own gun.

Cañal’s companion, Police Officer 2 Federico Nicolas of Brgy. Mansilingan, and Golden Shadow bar employee Samson Suico, 47, were also injured in the shooting.

Investigation showed that Cañal was disarming Arceña when Cuadra and their two companions drew their firearms and fired, hitting Suico who was standing nearby.

Arceña was able to wrest Cañal’s .45 caliber pistol and used it to shoot the policeman, and in shooting Nicolas, who failed to shoot back immediately because his firearm malfunctioned, the police said.

A necrological service was conducted for Cañal at the Bacolod City Police headquarters Thursday night, where his family and friends recalled their memories with him and, at the same time, called for immediate justice for his death.

Cañal will be laid to rest in his hometown in Brgy. Fabrica, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Meanwhile, businessman Vladimir Gonzales yesterday denied that he is coddling Cuadra, Arceña and their two companions contrary to the text messages circulated to different media entities from an unknown source.

Gonzales said the text messages accusing him of coddling the policeman’s killer was purely black propaganda and without basis. He said he is willing to submit himself to any investigation to prove his innocence.

On Thursday, de la Paz had said they are validating the report that a businessman, or someone influential, is coddling the killers of Cañal which is what makes it difficult for the members of the tracking team he formed to arrest them, although he did not mention any names.*APN

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