BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating if the murder of a man in Barangay Alangilan here this week is tied to his father’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Police probe murder of man in Bacolod
Published Jun 12, 2025 09:27 pm
POLICE Col. Joeresty Coronica (left), Bacolod City police director, and Police Major Joeil Reclamado, head of Police Station 5, speak in a media briefing in Bacolod City on Wednesday, June 11, over the case of a ‘salvage’ victim in Barangay Alangilan early this week. (Glazyl Masculino)
Police Major Joeil Reclamado, head of Police Station 5, in a media briefing on Wednesday, June 11, revealed that investigators are considering the possibility that the target was the victim’s father.
A placard found near the victim’s body accused his father of being a drug pusher, suggesting a possible motive rooted in the elder’s suspected drug ties.
“There’s a possibility the perpetrators were after the father, but ended up killing the son,” Reclamado said.
However, he said that a drug-related motive is not yet confirmed as they have not yet talked to the father.
The body of the victim, Christian, a resident of Barangay Estefania here, was discovered in a secluded part of Barangay Alangilan on Monday, June 9.
His mouth, hands, and feet were tied with duct tape and had two bullet wounds in the head. There were no signs of torture and autopsy results are still pending.
Police recovered five sachets of suspected shabu from the victim’s pocket and determining if these belong to him or were planted.
Reclamado said the victim reportedly had no criminal history, except for a barangay-level complaint over unpaid debt.
He said that a companion of the victim, a person of interest, has been identified.
The victim was seen voluntarily boarding a gray sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Estefania on June 8, indicating he knew the person he left with.
Reclamado said they are validating closed circuit television (CCTV) footage and other details to strengthen their case.
Fingerprint testing is underway on the duct tape and recovered illegal drugs and investigators believe three to four individuals may have been involved in the killing.
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, who joined Reclamado during the media interview, emphasized that despite a lack of conclusive evidence, signs point to the case being drug-related.
“I’d like to point out that this incident no doubt boils down to illegal drugs,” Coronica said, citing the declaration of the victim’s mother that her husband had alleged drug-related offenses and links to illegal drugs.
Coronica has instructed Police Station 4 which has jurisdiction over the victim’s residence to investigate the background of the victim and his father further to determine if the motive stemmed from past grudges or unresolved drug transactions.
He noted the challenge of obtaining sworn statements from witnesses who are reluctant to formally cooperate.
“We are not confident yet in solving the case until we have solid evidence, but we are doing our best to uncover the truth,” he said.