By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Investigators from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) now believe that the brutal massacre of four family members in the city’s Barangay Tangub was drug-related. 
In a press conference yesterday morning, Police Station 8 commander, Police Major Joery Puerto, said Christian “Dondon” Tulot has made an extrajudicial confession that he was responsible for killing Jocelyn Nombre, 60; Gemma Espinosa, 68; Michael Espinosa, 30; and Precious Espinosa, 6.
Puerto said Tulot also admitted that there were two other suspects in the brutal murders, identifying them as fellow relative Joel Espinosa and a certain individual only identified by his alias as “Bro.”
Following Tulot’s confession, police also placed Joel into custody, however, Puerto noted that Joel seemed to be suffering from a mental illness.
Alias “Bro,” meanwhile, remains at large and investigators are still trying to establish his complete identity.
Puerto said Tulot confessed that the massacre stemmed over illegal drugs, pointing out that Michael, one of the victims, owed money from “Bro” after buying shabu from him.
Tulot was brought to the Bacolod City Hall of Justice to face charges for possession of illegal drugs, as when he was searched by Don Salvador Benedicto police for questioning, they recovered five sachets of suspected shabu.
Tulot will also undergo forensic examination, while police continue to investigate and validate his involvement in the massacre.
Puerto explained that during the forensic examination, Tulot will also undergo DNA test to determine if some of the blood traces recovered in the victims’ home will match.
He particularly noted that Tulot has several scratches in his hands, and the suspect initially claimed that he got involved in an accident in his motorcycle.
The latest massacre is the second recorded in the city in 21 years, following the Rivilla Massacre in December of 2000 wherein six family members and two house maids were murdered./DGB, WDJ