BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod here has ordered an investigation on the killing of jail officer Jayvee Jason Vargas who was shot to death in an ambush last week.
The city’s legislative body passed a resolution enjoining the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), National Bureau of Investigation and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to conduct a “thorough investigation” and to prosecute those behind the killing.
“The city council has been calling these law enforcement agencies to resolve – at the earliest possible time – the high crimes committed in this city,” Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. , author of the resolution, said.
The councilor cited high-profile murder case in the city that include the slaying of businessman Alex Yao, Barangay 16 captain Nelson Ligaya, Police Officer Oscar Exaltado, and Lawyer Rafael Atutubo and attempted murder of then Councilor Ricardo Tan.
Gamboa pointed out the last unanimous resolution of the city council calls for the condemnation on the killing of Yao and for its immediate investigation and resolution as provided for in approved Resolution Number 198 Series of 2019.
According to Gamboa, these “senseless acts” planted fear, anxiety and apprehensions among the people of Bacolod.
Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, BCPO spokesman, earlier said the investigation of Police Station 9 is ongoing and persons of interest have already been identified.
He added that they are looking into four angles, including illegal drugs, in the killing of Vargas just before midnight on Friday in Barangay Cabug here.
Investigators are looking into the victim’s possible link to illegal drugs and the possibility that he was killed because of his work with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“The assailants really intended to kill Vargas. Based on the bullets found inside the vehicle, Vargas who was driving was really the target,” Pico said.
On Monday afternoon, the slain jailer’s mother, Yvonne, called for justice as she maintained that her 28-year-old son was innocent of any crime.
“To President (Rodrigo) Duterte and Vice President (Leni Robredo). Our family is asking for your help to attain justice for our son. He is innocent. This is so unfair and very painful to us,” she told reporters./PN
