BACOLOD City – The family of slain Senior Police Officer 4 Oscar Exaltado denied allegations that the latter was involved in illegal drugs.
One of his aunts who refused to be identified said there was “no way” Exaltado had engaged in illegal drug activities.
She added that “his family lived a simple life.”
She also said her nephew has received death threats before last Saturday’s shooting.
Exaltado – deputy commander of Bacolod City Police Office’s (BCPO) Police Station 6 – died after two motorcycle-riding suspects peppered him with bullets in front of JR Torres Elementary School in Barangay Singcang-Airport around 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 26.
He was driving a motorcycle on his way to work when the gunmen attacked.
Officers from Police Station 8 responded to the area but the suspects already fled.
The 46-year-old cop sustained 17 gunshot wounds, 16 of which were fatal, according to Chief Inspector West Edquila, citing the autopsy results from the Negros Occidental Provincial Crime Laboratory.
Exaltado had nine gunshot wounds on the head and eight on the different parts of the body, the results further showed.
Several empty shells of a .99mm gun and a .45-caliber firearm were recovered from the crime scene.
The Police Regional Office 6 has issued a statement condemning the assassination.
Regional police director Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao ordered for a “thorough investigation” to identify the suspects and the motive in the shooting.
“We will provide additional details on this incident as soon as the ongoing investigation is completed,” said Bulalacao.
He added: “We assure the bereaved family and their relatives that justice will be served the soonest time possible.”
Edquila said the autopsy results have been forwarded to the BCPO to help in the ongoing investigation.
BCPO officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas earlier formed a special task group that will look into Exaltado’s assassination.
Drug links, personal grudges and job-related issues were being eyed as motives in the police officer’s death. (With reports from Mae Singuay and Cyrus Garde/PN
