The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is asking the police and the military to beef up their intelligence gathering against possible guns-for-hire that might be utilized during the elections on Monday, May 12.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR election director, said yesterday that while hired guns are usually involved in criminal activities, there are instances when their services are employed by poll bets to promote their candidacies and ensure their victory.

Castillano’s statement followed news reports that the suspect in the killing of veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang in Kalibo, Aklan, was a resident of Barangay Balugo in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

Dayang, a former Kalibo mayor, was shot dead at his residence in the Aklan capital on April 29.

The police identified the suspect as Kim Wency Bayang Antonio, 39 years old, also known as “BB Boy,” a former security guard who hails from Cavite and resides in Balugo, Valencia.

Castillano said that while the journalist’s murder may not be directly related to the upcoming polls, nevertheless, the military and police must intensify their intelligence monitoring in Negros Oriental for the possible presence of hired guns.

He added that so far, no private armed groups have been monitored in Negros Oriental and Dayang’s suspected killer might just be “hiding” in the province.

Joint Comelec, police and military checkpoints in the province are now being conducted round-the-clock, three days ahead of the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the Provincial Intelligence Unit is now running a background investigation on Antonio.

He said they had to establish the suspect’s actual presence in the province before the murder and whether he was operating on his own or in a group that might be holed up in Negros Oriental. (PNA)