THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) continued to investigate the killing of Police Officer (PO) 1 Federico Nicolas in a shooting incident at Barangay 16, Bacolod City last Saturday, August 19.
Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of BCPO, said they are waiting for the report of the scene of the crime operatives (Soco) for further investigation.
Nicolas’s body was subjected to an autopsy and paraffin test.
Nicolas, who was linked to the illegal drug trade, could have been eliminated by his fellow drug group members, based on one of the angles eyed by the police.
As of Monday, investigators still have no lead on the identities of the seven unidentified armed men who shot to death Nicolas and injured his policeman-companion PO1 Wilmer Bansag and the latter's 17-year-old son.
Wanky said an in-depth investigation is ongoing to establish the real motive and to identify the assailants.
Police cannot yet establish Nicolas and Bansag’s connection as they continue to gather information.
Nicolas was identified as one of the protectors of illegal drug operations in the city. He was considered a level two high-value target of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, and was also under the drugs watchlist of BCPO.
On Saturday, Nicolas together with Bansag and the teenager were on board a gray Mitsubishi Adventure driven by Nicolas when a white Toyota Vios without plate number blocked their way in front of a public elementary school on Yulo Street.