THREE men were found dead in a house in Zone 4, Poblacion Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Friday morning, September 23, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit in Cagayan de Oro.
Police authorities identified the victims as Julito Ledesma, Onopre Aspiras and Neil Dagus, all residents of Tagoloan.
Senior Police Officer 4 Richie Raiz, Tagoloan police investigator, said witnesses recounted seeing three unidentified suspects going Ledesma's residence and shooting the victims.
Raiz said the neighbors, after hearing gunshots, saw the suspects promptly leaving the area.
The victims suffered gunshot wounds on their heads.
"Naay tulo ka tawo nga niadto sa balay sa biktima. Ang isa nisulod ang duha lookout then nadunggan na lang sa mga silingan ang lima ka mga buto-buto. Nagbaklay ra daw dayon ang mga suspect according sa mga silingan," Raiz said.
Police investigators are still in pursuit in identifying the suspects as well as determine the motive of the killing.
Authorities recovered from the Ledesma residence 23 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," one big cellophane also suspected to be "shabu," two caliber .30 bullets, and several drug paraphernalias.
Raiz said the house may have been the meeting place of drug users as neighbors often observe people coming in and out of the house, said Raiz.
"Sumala sa mga silingan gawas sulod ang mga tawo sa maong balay. Padayon pa ang atong investigation kay blangko pa ta sa mga suspects," Raiz added.
Dagus' father William said he has been reminding his son to stop engaging in illegal drug activities.
"Dugay na nga higayon nako siya nga gisultihan, gipatrabaho ko gani na siya sa munisipyo ug sa usa ka kompanya sa Villanueva. Wala ko kahibalo nga ing-ani na nahitabo," said the elder Dagus.
Raiz disclosed that the suspects had turned themselves in to the government’s 'Tokhang' program.