THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is coordinating with other intelligence units to further investigate the alleged illegal drug involvement of slain Filipino-Chinese businessman Alex Yao.
Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, officer-in-charge of BCPO, said they are tapping the intelligence unit of the Police Regional Office (PRO)- Central Visayas, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas and Central Visayas, and other law enforcement units in the neighboring islands to gather information about Yao’s alleged drug links.
Biñas said they resorted to such move since illegal drugs were allegedly sourced out in some nearby areas.
Yao was reportedly included in the previous drug’s list of President Rodrigo Duterte as a high-value target. Though, authorities have yet to see the actual list.
He was also allegedly affiliated with Cebuano businessman Peter Lim, who was earlier named a drug lord by Duterte in 2016.
Though he refused to confirm or deny it, Biñas said they will look into the allegation.
As other information are confidential and validation of reports is still ongoing, the BCPO top official refused to elaborate more on Yao’s alleged drug links.
He said the BCPO is open if other units and law enforcement agencies will help them in the investigation.
David Garcia, spokesperson of PDEA- Western Visayas in Iloilo City said they are also verifying the information, since reports implicating Yao’s name in illegal drugs just reached their office after the shooting incident.
“We heard about it but before we make a statement, we need to verify it or else it would be deemed as hearsay,” he added.
On Tuesday night, February 19, Yao and wife, Ma. Theresa were on board a Mercedes Benz, at the parking lot of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist Church) when an unidentified gunman fired at them and fled with an unidentified companion on board a motorcycle.
They attended a prayer meeting just before the shooting incident happened.
Yao succumbed to three gunshot wounds while his wife was hit on her left hand.
Biñas said they have asked Yao’s family to subject his cellular phone for examination. Additional details from which will aid the investigation.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas based in Iloilo City, earlier told SunStar Bacolod that an alleged rival drug syndicate may possibly be behind the attack of Yao.
“Yao may have been liquidated because of rivalry. We have yet to gather evidence to support such claims, but we are looking into it,” Bulalacao added.
Aside from drugs, police are also eyeing that the killing might have something to do with his businesses and personal life.
Yao owned a lending and currency exchange firms, and co-owned several lending companies in Bacolod City and other parts of Negros Occidental.
He was also a cement distributor, supplying to various construction firms in the province and other parts of the country.
Biñas said they have no suspects yet and no motive but they are trying to consolidate whatever evidence they have right now to go over with the case.
“We have some difficulties on the case but we’re doing our part to solve it,” he added.
Biñas said they have five witnesses but they have yet to have formal statements about their testimonies.
Also, they have not yet viewed the closed-circuit television camera footage installed at the vicinity of the church since the officer-in-charge assigned for it is still not available.
Meanwhile, Yao’s family refused to further comment on the incident, for the meantime, including on the reports linking him to illegal drugs.
Though they said that the victim’s remains will be cremated on Friday, February 22, and will be brought to their residence.
There will also be a mass for him at the Acropolis Gardens in Bacolod City on Friday evening.
The local church earlier condemned the killing of the businessman.
Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod, in a statement on Wednesday night, February 20, urged the BCPO for a swift resolution over the murder of Yao.
He urged the police to identify and arrest the perpetrators and hold them accountable by subjecting them to the rule of law.
According to Buzon, Yao’s murder inside the church’s grounds was a “deplorable act.”
It is an act of violence that has no place in the Christian communities, and more so, in our society that upholds the principles of law and order, Buzon said.
“We strongly condemn this killing as an act that is indicative of a complete disregard for the Christian and societal ideal we stand for,” Buzon added.
He further stated any form of violence has no place in and outside places of worship. (with reports from TDE)