THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) dismissed illegal drugs as a possible motive behind the death of the cousin of slain Western Visayas drug lord Ramy Poja.
Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, deputy chief of Police Community Relations (PCR) of BCPO, said Tuesday, June 19, that the Police Station 1 with assistance from the city’s Investigation and Detection Management Unit are looking into two angles to establish the motive behind the murder of 33-year-old Salvador Poja Jr. of Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago on Monday morning, June 18.
Although he refused to divulge further details to avoid pre-empting the ongoing investigation, Gabana said Poja’s death could be due to personal or work-related reasons.
(Read:) Kin of drug lord in Western Visayas gunned down
Gabana said footage taken from a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) could help them in identifying the assailant.
The gunman was in a white shirt and was not wearing a helmet during the incident. He is around 35 to 40 years old, has medium built and fair complexion, Gabana said.
The police continue to gather more CCTV footages from surrounding establishments to determine the suspect's escape route.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Councilor Renecito Novero said the murder of the Poja is a “terror signal to a peace-loving community.”
“I lament over the incident and wish that it would not happen here again,” Novero said.
The councilor said that the city officials need to meet with police officers and discuss how the city’s peace and security efforts could be improved.
He also called for the police to expedite their investigation to determine the identity of the suspect. (With reports from Merlinda A. Pedrosa)