• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Four persons were reported by the police to have been found dead in the cities of Talisay and San Carlos, Negros Occidental, on August 10 and 11.
A man was found dead by a group of teenagers at 2:20 a.m. on Monday at Hacienda San Isidro in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City. The victim, described by the Talisay police as 45 to 50 years old, wore a blue T-shirt, denim short pants, and green slippers.
An abandoned black and white Euro Viper Man 150, with temporary plate number 061609, and a black helmet, were recovered by the police at the crime scene.
At about 9 a.m. of the same day, the decomposing body of another man was discovered by hacienda overseer Melchor Baneco beside a sugarcane field at Hacienda Minuluan Mendoza in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City.
The victim was described by the police to have been wearing blue shorts.
Another male victim, aged approximately 35 to 40 years old, was also found dead inside a sugarcane field in Hacienda San Isidro, Brgy. Concepcion, Talisay City. Personal belongings and a kitchen knife were recovered nearby.
The Talisay City Police Station has yet to determine if the deaths of three persons are related to each other.
In all three incidents, the identities of the victims and suspects remain undetermined, according to the police.
To ensure a unified and focused probe, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region, has ordered the creation of Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to spearhead the probe, integrate all gathered intelligence, and coordinate with forensic experts for the speedy identification of the victims and resolution of the cases.
Expressing his concern of the incidents, Ibay tasked the SITG to ensure that all angles be examined, and to pursue every lead of the investigations.
Rest assured, every available resource is being mobilized to determine the truth and to hold those responsible and accountable, he added.
Ibay also encouraged the public to immediately report any information that may assist in identifying the victims, or in resolving those cases.*GPB
