By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City Police Office’s City Intelligence Unit (BCPO-CIU) is also on the lookout for the remaining suspects involved in the Pamplona massacre.

They also strengthened border control to prevent the suspects from entering the city.

In a radio interview with XFM 96.7 Bacolod, BCPO-CIU chief, Police Major Joery Puerto said they are confirming the information they received that one of the massacre suspects may have a family or close relatives living in Bacolod.

On the other hand, one of the vehicles used in the massacre, recovered in Negros Oriental’s Bayawan City, was revealed to have been registered in Bacolod.

The CIU believe that the vehicle may have been rented out, and they are gathering more information regarding its owner, Puerto said.

Meanwhile, police stations and the 61 village chiefs in the city have been told to also be on guard.

On March 4, armed gunmen attacked the house of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in Pamplona town, killing him and eight other civilians.

Four suspects — former soldiers Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Osmindo Rivero, and Joven Javier — were arrested following the attack.

Another suspect was killed after engaging in a gun battle with law enforcement.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the Department of National Defense to “suppress criminal activities and impunity” on Negros Island.

He also issued verbal orders to create a joint task force to step up and assist the ongoing manhunt operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for the arrest of the remaining suspects./DGB, WDJ