BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The police director of Negros Occidental has recommended to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to put up an additional cash reward of P250,000 to speed up the arrest of the suspect in the killing of four barangay officials and wounding of three others in Silay City last March 6.
This will be on top of the P500,000 cash reward earlier offered by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. for the arrest of suspect Noel Ayalin.
Ayalin, former chairman of Barangay Kapitan Ramon in Silay City, has been charged with multiple murder and frustrated murder.
He has remained at large despite a nationwide manhunt and the joint efforts of the police, military and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, said Ayalin now tops the list of the 10 most wanted persons in the province.
Guisihan said the PNP national headquarters will be the one that will endorse his recommendation to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which will then evaluate it.
Guisihan said the DILG has funds to provide cash rewards for the arrest of wanted persons.
He said his office continues to receive reports that Ayalin has been seen in Murcia town and elsewhere in the province.
These reports, Guisihan said, confirm their suspicion that Ayalin is still in Negros and is possibly being protected by his friends.
– Danny Dangcalan