By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A drug suspect was shot and beheaded late Tuesday night at Rosario Street, Barangay 38 in Bacolod City. The head was later recovered in Purok Sigay in the city’s Barangay 2.
Police identified the victim as Glenn Paul Castillo, a native of General Trias, Cavite but temporarily residing in Bacolod City’s Deca Homes Subdivision in Barangay Cabug.
Police Station 1 commander, Police Major Ramel Sarona, said at around 9:15 p.m. two Toyota Innova vehicles arrived along Rosario Street. Witnesses told the police that they saw more or less eight people occupying the two vehicles.
Several suspects then got out of the vehicles and started shooting their guns in the air, while another proceeded to behead Castillo on the spot.
The suspect then placed the victim’s head in a sack, and the two vehicles sped away leaving behind Castillo’s body with his hands still cuffed in the back.
Police recovered several empty .9mm and .45 caliber bullet casings at the crime scene, along with a placard stating “Bayad sa utang!!! Interest palang…Capital preparar para suma total!!! Halong Bacolod.”
Meanwhile, the location where Castillo’s body was dropped is also the same place where Police Staff Sgt. Joseph Nepomuceno was gunned down last Sunday.
Police also believe that Castillo was already dead when he was beheaded as his body also had several gunshot and stab wounds.
Castillo’s head was later found in a plastic bag at Purok Sigay in Barangay 2.
According to the person who discovered the head identifying himself as alias Mario, he was parking his motorcycle in preparation for the evening curfew when he was approached by a vehicle.
The occupants of the vehicle then told him that there is a plastic trash in front of a nearby store, which is also in the road.
The vehicle then sped away, while Mario parked his motorcycle and proceeded to the plastic bag.
As he was trying to clear it, Mario described the bag as covered in a sticky substance. He then ordered another person nearby to turn on his flash flight and when he opened the bag, he discovered Castillo’s head inside.
Mario immediately sought the help of barangay officials in the area and nearby Police Station 2.
The location where the head was dropped was only 50 to 70 meters away from the barangay hall of Barangay 2.
According to Sarona, Castillo was arrested last August 22 in a buy-bust operation which resulted in the confiscation of P156,800 worth of suspected shabu.
However, he was later freed from police custody after he managed to post bail for his criminal charge last August 27.
Although police are still investigating if Castillo’s death was connected to Nepomuceno’s murder, reports indicate that the slain cop participated in the operation which led to Castillo’s arrest.
“I-check naman naton subong kung ano nga kaso ang gin-handle ni Staff Sgt. Nepomuceno para ma-establish naton ang connection sa duwa ka insidente,” Sarona said.
He further added that the suspects may have been angry with Castillo which ultimately led to the brutal murder. The suspects are also believed to be forwarding a message, although police are still investigating it./DGB, WDJ
