• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) said on Wednesday that they had no involvement in the death of Ronilo Panoncial, the suspect in the killing of Police MSgt. Romulo Galvez during a buy-bust operation.
BCPO Officer-in-Charge PCol. Eugene Rebadomia clarified that Panoncial died in the hospital while receiving medical treatment, and was not in police custody at the time, citing standard operating procedures.
Panoncial died on April 11, following the April 9 buy-bust operation in Barangay Alijis that resulted in the death of Galvez.
Rebadomia said that they are open to inquiries from the family, as they have the right to question the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He added that medical professionals recommended Panoncial’s admission to the hospital because he had reportedly become difficult to manage.
The BCPO is now awaiting the official medical findings, which remain under the authority of the suspect’s family, to determine the exact cause of death.*
