Guihulngan judge wounded, bodyguard killed in ambush

CEBU – Regional Trial Court Branch 64 judge Mario Trinidad was ambushed by unidentified men on a motorcycle while he was on his way home past midnight yesterday in sitio Looc, barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Oriental Negros.

According to the initial investigation, Trinidad was driving his multicab tailed by his bodyguard Dolfo Guzman, on a motorcycle, when unidentified assailants fired at Guzman first and then at the judge around 12:30 a.m.

The director of the Oriental Negros Provincial Police Office, Senior Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. said that the judge and his bodyguard were on their way back home after visiting a friend in sitio Bateria of the same city.

When the vehicles of the judge and his bodyguard were approaching Trinidad’s house which was about 200 meters away from the crime scene, two unidentified men onboard a green motorcycle, both wearing crash helmets, fired at them.

The one who was armed with an M16 rifle shot Guzman dead.

The assailants then tailed the multicab and fired several shots hitting Trinidad in the right thigh and at the back and grazing his right ear.

Despite his wounds, the judge managed to drive his multicab towards the garage and found safety while his attackers fled the area.

The PNP Alert Team of the Guihulngan City Police Station led by SPO1 Samuel Cañete immediately responded to the alarm.

Upon arrival at the crime scene, they found the body of Guzman. Recognizing that the victim was the bodyguard of Trinidad, Cañete and some of his men went to the house of the judge to check on him.

After finding that the judge was also shot, the team rushed him to the Governor Billy Villegas Memorial Hospital in Guihulngan City. Trinidad was later transferred to the Silliman University Medical Center.

The judge is now in stable condition.

SWAT personnel have sent two PNP personnel from the Guihulngan City Police Station to help ensure the safety of the judge while in the said hospital. 

Ten empty 5.56mm shells were recovered at the crime scene.

The police are also trying to determine if the motive behind the incident was personal or work-related. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)