By JEN BAYLON

The three persons of interest in the murder of a police officer in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City have been tested negative in the paraffin tests, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said yesterday.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said Staff Sergeant Lernie Alacha’s live-in partner and two children, including a seven-year-old boy who reportedly shot his father, underwent paraffin tests.

“Based on the paraffin test results, they were negative, but it’s not conclusive,” Catalogo said.

He said the NOCPPO is waiting for more evidence gathered by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) in the incident.

“We are also hoping for developments that will come up from the SOCO report … and the autopsy report,” Catalogo said in an interview.

He said there are factors that might have contributed to the negative paraffin test results.

“May ara kita delay sa pagkuha paraffin tests, [as it should be] taken most likely right after the [incident],” he said.

Meanwhile, the NOCPPO is set to conduct a separate investigation into Alacha’s murder, and will gather statements from the victim’s family and close relatives.

“Our objective is to gather enough or all pieces of evidence and statements that would help our investigators direct their investigation regarding this incident,” Catalogo said.

Earlier, Police Regional Office in Western Visayas director, Brigadier General Jack Wanky urged the NOCPPO to conduct paraffin tests on Alacha’s family members and persons of interest to determine if they were handling any firearms during the incident.

Alacha, who was assigned to the Sagay City Police Station, was allegedly killed by his seven-year-old son inside their home in the city’s Barangay Andres Bonifacio on April 27.

An initial police investigation revealed that 44-year-old Alacha was arguing with his live-in partner, 33-year-old Irene Dayanan, inside the bedroom due to jealousy.

The tension between the couple intensified when Alacha learned that some of her followers on TikTok had been engaging with his live-in partner.

Triggered by the conflict, their son retrieved his father’s service firearm, a .9mm caliber pistol, stored in a plastic box outside the couple’s room, and allegedly shot his father in the neck.

Catalogo said the minor was placed under the custody of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the Sagay police./JB, WDJ