By CESAR JOLITO III

Police are investigating the killing of a man believed to be the prime suspect in several shooting incidents across Negros Occidental, after his body was discovered bound and shot inside Bloom Fields Subdivision in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mandalagan early yesterday morning.

Authorities identified the victim as 36-year-old Jose June Codico, a resident of Purok Pine Tree in the city’s Barangay Bata.

Relatives confirmed his identity through distinctive tattoos on his chest and neck.

Bacolod Police Station 3 commander, Police Major Rhondyl Tapang, said a concerned citizen found Codico lying face down at around 6:00 a.m., gagged and blindfolded with duct tape.

Codico sustained four gunshot wounds to the head.

While no spent shells were recovered, police believe the killing occurred at the scene due to fresh blood traces.

Tapang said Codico was the prime suspect in the shooting of Jake Flores in Barangay Bata last year.

He was also allegedly involved in other gun attacks, including an incident in the city’s Barangay Tangub in 2024, two shooting cases in La Carlota City earlier this year, and another in Bago City this year.

Investigations also linked Codico to illegal drug and firearm possession in 2019, as well as cable wire theft in 2017.

Authorities are still determining the motive behind his killing and have launched a full investigation./CJ, WDJ