Murder may be linked to recent killing
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The remains found last week in Murcia’s Barangay Pandanon Silos were identified yesterday morning after the family of 24-year-old Christian Diputado, a native of Estancia, Iloilo and resident of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, provided information to police.
Murcia municipal police chief, Police Major Robert Dejucos, said Diputado’s mother; siblings; and live-in partner, Roxanne Esconde, visited the police station and positively identified the remains.
Based on Esconde’s statement to police, their home in San Carlos City was visited by unidentified men wearing bonnets on December 12. The men asked about Diputado’s whereabouts but he had earlier escaped and hid at a nearby friend’s house.
The following day, she said Diputado was headed to the San Carlos City Police Station but he failed to arrive and remained missing since then.
Background checks on the victim found he had been previously arrested on robbery and illegal drugs charges. However, Diputado reportedly denied the illegal drugs allegations and claimed the drugs recovered from his possession were planted.
Following the revelations by the victim’s family, Dejucos said they now strongly believe the incident may be connected to the earlier abduction and murder of Ontao Sacar, a Marawi City native whose remains were found in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mandalagan.
Murcia police are now coordinating with the Bacolod City Police Office in order to identify the suspects.
Meanwhile, Diputado’s remains were eventually interred at the Murcia Public Cemetery but plans are being made for his remains to be returned to his hometown in Iloilo./DGB, WDJ