By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros lauded the personnel of the Victorias City Police Station for their swift work after the remains of a seven-year-old girl were found inside a sack last Sunday in the city’s Barangay 6A. Shortly after, the suspect, 37-year-old Mark Besa, was arrested in Ajuy, Iloilo.
The NOPPO chief noted, charges of rape and homicide have been filed against the suspect.
Baleros said the actions of the city’s police station have brought great honor to the entire provincial police force and urged local residents to cooperate with law enforcement, especially in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Besa, who was also identified as drug suspect, was arrested last Monday.
Following the killing, Besa crossed the Panay Gulf by stealing a fishing boat and hid with his relatives.
The suspect’s location was tracked down after Victorias City police alerted officials in Iloilo that he was no longer in Negros./DGB, WDJ