• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday declared that the death of a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) trade union paralegal Alex Dolorosa was neither the work of hired killers nor state sponsored due to alleged Red tagging, but happened because of a robbery.
Dolorosa, a trade union paralegal officer of BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), was found dead on April 24, at Villa Rosario in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City. According to the police, he succumbed to multiple stab wounds.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) claimed that the death of Dolorosa was another extrajudicial killing of a workers’ rights advocate in the Philippines.
NBI Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino, however said that their investigation showed that the killing of Dolorosa was not related to his job as BPO trade union paralegal officer.
Based on CCTV footage they were able to secure, Baldovino said it appears that Dolorosa willingly went with his assailants, as he was even seen driving his motorcycle with a back rider, following another motorcycle with two male riders, towards the area where he was found dead early morning of April 24.
As of this time, Baldovino said the driven motorcycle of Dolorosa remains missing, including his personal belongings, such as his wallet and cellphone.
He raised the possibility that the motorcycle of Dolorosa was already “chopped” into different parts, and sold.
While they have yet to establish the identities of three suspects, who were last known companions of Dolorosa before he was found dead, Baldovino said that his assailants may be residing near the crime scene, as they were familiar of the place.
NBI investigations further showed that the victim and suspects appeared know each other, and were thought to have met at the Panaad Festival in Brgy, Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on the night of April 23.
Baldovino also said that the victim does not look threatened while accompanying the suspects, although his back rider could be threatening him, based on CCTV footages they acquired.
A case summary released by BIEN described the 38-year-old Dolorosa as a full-time organizer and paralegal officer for the labor organization. He joined BIEN in 2016 as a volunteer.
The United States has condemned the killing of Dolorosa in Bacolod City, stressing that impunity is “unacceptable.”
Last month, the Department of Justice tasked the NBI Bacolod office to conduct a parallel probe in the death of Dolorosa.
In a statement, BIEN said it abhors and condemns in the strongest form, the treacherous murder of Dolorosa, noting that the manner of his murder reflects on the state of lawlessness and never-ending culture of impunity in the country.
The BIEN statement further said that the state of lawlessness is not good for business in the country.
“The murder of Alex only underscores this risk and the government remains blind and deaf to our working conditions. This is on top of the prevalent red-tagging and vilification by state forces,” it added.
Baldovino said their investigations into the death of Dolorosa, to unmask the identities his assailants, is continuing as of this time.
The US State Department, in a statement, condemned the death of Dolorosa in Bacolod City, stressing that impunity is “unacceptable.”
“The United States joins the Philippine government in condemning the brutal murder of Alex Dolorosa, a trade union leader and LGBTQI+ activist in the Philippines,” it said.*
