Negros mayor denies son’s link to former cop’s killing

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor has denied allegations linking his son to the killing of a former policeman at a beach resort in Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental on Jan. 5

Nicor told ABS-CBN Bacolod on Thursday that the allegation that his son was the sixth suspect who managed to escape after the killing, was not true.

He said his son or his family had no connection, with the five arrested suspects or the victim, Rex delos Reyes, 43, of Molo, Iloilo.

Before the killing, Delos Reyes had been dropped from the roster of the Philippine National Police, according to the Western Visayas regional police office.

“I don’t know any of them,” Nicor said in response to reports that he allegedly helped the sixth suspect escaped and that he tried to intervene in the arrest of the five other suspects.

He said the police officers who arrested the five suspects were from the La Castellana, Hinigaran and Pontevedra police offices, noting that it would be impossible for him to intervene.

The five suspects – Michael Jancilan, Roger Garilba, Vicente Poleros, Eduardo Montaño, and Openiano Dolar Jr. – were in a Nissan Urvan when they were arrested in Barangay Camandag in La Castellana.

Aside from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the National Bureau of Investigation  based in Iloilo City is documenting Delos Reyes’ case, who was shot at the Bulubitoon Beach Resort in Barangay Miranda.

The victim was used to be with the PNP Intelligence Group in Iloilo before he was transferred to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who earlier called for a deeper investigation into the case on Thursday, defended Nicor.

“We must presume the person innocent unless proven guilty,” Marañon said as he dismissed allegations against the mayor.

Nicor is a known ally of the governor.

In a related development, the five suspects linked to the killing of Delos Reyes have reportedly been tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, according to Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, director of the Negros Occidental police office.

“Results of ballistic tests on the firearms recovered from the suspects will be out next week, said Chief Inspector Lino Dalisay, commander of the Hinigaran police.

Murder charges have been filed against the five suspects before the provincial prosecutors’ office.

Dalisay said additional charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives would be filed against the suspects.

Lirazan and Dalisay on Friday issued conflicting statements on the existence of a sixth suspect.

Lirazan said they are investigating reports that a son of Nicor was seen in the company of the five suspects at a cockpit in La Castellana the night before the crime.

Dalisay, for his part, said only five persons were arrested. He said he has no idea about the allegations that a son of Nicor was linked to the suspects.