Police arrested one of the suspects in the shooting of four men in Purok Tambis, Barangay Capio-an, a mountainous area in Argao town, on the evening of Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The shooting killed Rocky Bernabe Celada, 36, and injured two other victims, while a fourth companion managed to run away and escape.
The arrested suspect was identified as Esteban Zamora Solis Jr., 35, a resident of the same barangay. He was apprehended during a manhunt operation launched by the Argao Municipal Police Station around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Follow-up Operation Leads to Arrest
After the shooting, Argao police immediately conducted a follow-up operation, leading to the arrest of Solis the next day. Witnesses identified him as one of the suspects. Confiscated from Solis was a .45 caliber pistol with five live bullets.
According to a personnel from the Argao Municipal Police Station, Solis has an accomplice whom they are now hunting. Personal grudge is one of the motives being pursued by the police. However, they have not ruled out the possibility that the incident is related to illegal drugs or a vendetta, as Celada had previously been imprisoned for five years for frustrated murder.
Details of the Shooting Incident
It can be recalled that while Rocky Celada, Edsel Campaner, Anselmo Canitam, and Anderson Padilla were sitting outside a house, a car and a motorcycle suddenly arrived, and their occupants fired multiple times.
Celada died instantly, while Campaner and Canitam were injured. Padilla was unharmed as he managed to run away.
