3 of 5 suspects in cop slay linked to "drug lord"

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Three of the five arrested suspects in the killing of Rex de los Reyes, a former policeman from Iloilo, have alleged link to a known drug lord in Iloilo City, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

PDEA-Western Visayas regional director Paul Ledesma said the three suspects were Michael Jancilan, 37, and Roger Garilba, 28, both of Iloilo; and Openiano Dolar Jr., 51, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

The two others—Vicente Poleros and Eduardo Montaño—were both from Escalante City, Negros Occidental that has been known as an illegal gambling hotspot in the province.

De los Reyes, who was dropped from the PNP roster before his murder, was gunned down at a beach resort in Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental on Jan. 5.

Ledesma, however, refused to elaborate on the alleged links of the suspects and neither did he name the "drug lord, but he said the three were frequently seen in Brgy. Malipayon of Iloilo City, which has been tagged a drug trade hotspot. Ledesma said they are still investigating whether the motive in the De los Reyes' murder was drug-related.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had been calling for a deeper investigation into the case, saying a syndicate group could be behind the crime, and Ledesma said PDEA has been probing if the motive in the cop murder was drug-related.

The five suspects are now in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Murder charges and illegal possession of firearms and explosives have been filed against them.

So far, the police have yet to issue a statement on the possible involvement of a sixth suspect, who reportedly managed to escape during the arrest of the five suspects.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and Chief Insp. Lino Dalisay, chief of the Hinigaran Police Station, issued conflicting statements on the reports about the sixth suspect, who was allegedly the son of a mayor.

Lirazan said they are investigating reports that the mayor's son was seen in the company of the five suspects at a cockpit in La Castellana the night before the crime. Dalisay, however, said only five persons were arrested, and that he had no idea about the mayor's son involvement to the crime or connections to the suspects. — (FREEMAN)