IPPO: Two killers of bizman now known

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  -- The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) announced that it has identified the two killers of a drugstore owner in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, IPPO director, however opted not to reveal the names of the suspects until a case is filed against them.

"We're 80 percent sure that they are the suspects. It's just a matter of time before we could pin them down," he said.

Lebin had a case conference over the weekend with Insp. Paboral, Bingawan Police chief, and Chief Insp. Elmer Armada, Sta. Barbara Police chief.

From the information and evidence gathered, Lebin said that grudges and robbery appeared to be the motives of the killing of Alejandro Mandilag, 50, owner of Poly May Pharmacy at Arroyo Street in Sta. Barbara.

Mandilag was found dead Friday morning at Brgy. Agbao in Bingawan town by a motorcycle driver and some students at the boundary of Agbao and Ngingian villages.

The body was already on the backseat of his Toyota car (UGR-838) when discovered. He sustained injuries on his neck and side of his body.

Prior to that, Mandilag was reported missing after he left home at around 4:30 p.m. of Thursday.

When reports came out that a body was found in Bingawan, his family went to the area and confirmed that it was indeed Mandilag.

The night before the body was found, a resident of Agbao claimed that he heard a noise but did not mind it when the noise died shortly later.

Lebin however believed that Mandilag was not killed in Agbao or inside his car. "We found no blood stains in the car even if his neck was slit," he said.

An information later came out that the victim came from a drinking spree, prompting investigators that he could have been waylaid and killed.

The assailants used a wood with a nail on it. After Mandilag was killed, he was put inside his car and his body abandoned at Bingawan.

Lebin also assumed that the killing was planned. "The suspects may have personal grudges against him. There was an element of robbery after his killers took his jewelry and valuables," he said.

For now, investigators are gathering more evidences and witnesses before a case for robbery with homicide or murder could be filed against Mandilag's alleged killers.