• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A teacher who succumbed to multiple stab wounds, was found dead at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday, in front of his boarding house at Dumas Street in Brgy. San Pedro, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
The victim was identified as Tony Lazaga, a 51-year-old faculty member of the Binalbagan Catholic College.
The discovery on the lifeless body of Lazaga was made when tricycle driver Fabie Limson, who was transporting a passenger, passed by the scene of incident.
Recovered from the crime scene by the police were two bags containing a laptop and personal belongings of the victim, two kitchen knives, with one having bloodstains, a damaged folding umbrella, and a left-side slipper.
In a statement, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol condemned the killing of Lazaga, a resident of Brgy. 35, Bacolod City.
Mirasol urged the Binalbagan police to hasten their investigations in the killing of Lazaga, while enlisting the support of the community to share any information to the police connected with the incident.
BCC students, faculty, and staff yesterday offered a prayer vigil for Lazaga, who was also an adviser of the Supreme Student Government.
According to The Patrician, the official school publication of BCC, investigators have already identified three persons of interest in the alleged murder of Lazaga.
CCTV footage obtained by authorities showed Lazaga passing by the main gate of the BCC College Campus, being followed by three individuals.
Two persons of interest are in the custody of the Binalbagan Police Station, while one is still at large.
Mirasol said he ordered barangay tanods to assist police in the conduct of visibility operations around the town poblacion, especially during night time.
He also asked his constituents, especially minors and students, to refrain from going out of their residences at night, until the wee hours of the morning, while a curfew is being imposed.*
