Four people, including a village chairman and a policeman were killed while five others were wounded in a shooting incident during a bikini open event in Brgy. Tacas in Jaro district shortly after Thursday midnight.

Killed in the incident were village chairman Rolando Tabuada Jr., Police Officer 3 Jerome Jacolina, an intelligence officer of Jaro Police Station, police's cousin Remy Jacolina, and tricycle driver Avelino Savidalas.

The incident happened around 12:10 of May 11.

Still confined at the hospital are Archie Degoma Jr., Sonia Apostol and two relatives of the policeman - Rio Jacolina and Richard Jacolina.

Initial police investigation revealed that on duty PO3 Jacolina and his party allegedly complained of the P3,000 bill for the food and beer they consumed while watching the bikini open.

The village chairman tried to meddle in a verbal tussle that ensued between the group of PO3 Jacolina and the officials of the bikini open.

A few moments later, gunshots rang out for about 10 minutes in the area.

Residents said that bullets rained inside the covered gym of the said village. Recovered from the scene were 153 empty shells of fired bullets of different firearms.

The bikini open is in line with the fiesta celebration of the village in honor of Sr. Isidro Labrador.

In a phone interview, Iloilo City Police Director Marietto Valerio said that a follow up investigation is being pursued to give any possible lead for the arrest of the perpetrators.

"We could not pinpoint to any person as of the moment since there were different stories coming from each party," he said.

Valerio also confirmed that the PO3 Jacolina was on duty during the time of the incident.

BAN

With the involvement of a policeman in the said incident, Valerio has released a directive to ban police officers from drinking in any village activity.

"On duty or not, anyone found under the influence of intoxicating liquor may face suspension or dismissal from service," he said.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog also ordered the banning of bikini open contests in line with any village celebrations.*