• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The owner of the dismembered human body parts left outside the office of the National Bureau of Investigation in March has been identified by the NBI.
NBI Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino yesterday identified the victim as Baltazar Lamata of Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, who was reported missing by his family, prior to the discovery of the frozen human body parts, composed of a left arm, left leg, and two ears.
The dismembered human body parts were placed inside a sack, with a written message: “William de Arca NBI protector ni Hanz Lopez drug lord.”
Baldovino maintained that Arca, an investigator of the NBI, has not been involved in the illegal drugs trade, stressing also that the message connecting Arca to illegal drugs could be a diversionary tactic by influential persons behind illegal gambling operations.
Based on intelligence reports they got, Baldovino also said that Lamata was allegedly engaged in the illegal drug trade.
Lamata, who had previously applied for a NBI clearance, was positively identified through fingerprint matching by the NBI’s Dactyloscopy Division, he added.
Baldovino said they are exerting their best effort to talk to the family of Lamata, especially his live-in partner, who appeared to be uncooperative, apparently because of threats.*
