The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) offered on Tuesday, Feb. 3, P1 million for any information that could lead to the arrest of a police asset who allegedly gunned down his police handler in Malolos City in Bulacan last month.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the bounty offer is proof of how they value the contribution of Police Staff Sergeant Renato Casauay, Jr. as a dedicated member of the local police’ Drug Enforcement Group.

“The DILG is putting a P1 million price tag on the head on the arrest on information leading to the arrest of Mon Salamat and company,” said Remulla in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Salamat is the alleged gunman in the Jan. 24 killing of Cauasay in a village in Barangay Mojon where the cop’s cadaver was also recovered inside a septic tank a few days later.

Based on the investigation, Cauasay told his wife that he would meet an asset in Malolos City. That was Jan. 24 and according to the police, it was Cauasay’s birthday.

That asset, according to Central Luzon regional director Police Brig. Ponce Rogelio Peñones, turned out to be Salamat.

The motive

According to Peñones, Salamat is a member of a local drug-dealing group.

In December 14 last year, Cauasay initiated an anti-illegal drugs operation that led to the confiscation of around 50 grams of shabu and the arrest of a suspected drug peddler who turned out to be a member of a Salamat’s group.

That operation, as well as Cauasay’s attempt to dig deeper into the group involved in the drug dealing in the area, was the start of the plan to silence him.

Remulla said they obtained a CCTV that showed the time before, during and after the killing of Cauasay. While the actual killing was not captured, the audio was recorded wherein at least five gunshots were heard.

Cauasay suffered at least three bulletwounds, one in the head, and two others in both his arms.

Peñones explained that it was Salamat himself, the police’s asset, who repeatedly shot Cauasay on order of the leader of their group.

“They see him (Cauasay) as a problem already for their operation,” said Peñones.

Remulla said the group is known in Barangay Mojon and nearby areas as engaged in illegal drugs transactions.

‘Ay Natakot’

According to Peñones, Salamat and another suspect went to the house of a police corporal and confessed everything that happened to Cauasay, including how his body was dumped into a septic tank.

But instead of arresting Salamat, the police corporal did not act and kept silent about the confession.

It was only when at least two witnesses surfaced and told the police about the incident that the body was recovered and the suspects identified.

When asked why he did not act on the confession involving the death of a fellow cop, the police corporal admitted to being a consultant of a riders’ group that included most of the suspects.

“Right there and then, he should have arrested them. But he did not act and kept silent… And I’m sorry to say this but he said he got scared,” said Peñones.

The police corporal, along with three others, are now under police custody while a manhunt is ongoing against Salamat and seven others.