BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has directed Colonel Noel Aliño, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), to file charges against the suspects involved in the killing of a senior high school student recently.
Grade 11 Nicus Balagosa, 20, was shot to death by one of the two suspects in front of his parents inside their house in Granada Heights Subdivision, Barangay Granada in this city past 7 p.m. on June 2.
Captain Portia Nillosan, commander of the Bacolod City Police Station 5, said the victim was allegedly shot by the father of a 16-year-old girl, whose name was withheld, whom the victim’s group allegedly molested.
Nillosan, however, added that based on their investigation the victim has no participation in the alleged rape incident after the girl herself cleared his name.
In a statement through Atty. Caesar Distrito, spokesperson of Mayor Benitez, the mayor ordered the filing of charges so that justice will be served to the helpless victim.
The city mayor also directed the BCPO director to make sure that the victim’s family is secured as they claimed that they fear for their lives.
Benitez also expressed his sympathy and condolences to the victim’s parents: “I cannot imagine the pain and sufferings of Balagosa’s parents that their only child was shot and killed in their presence, and in their own home.”
Meanwhile, Benitez urged the killers of Balagosa to surrender immediately or else the full force of the law will be used until justice is served to the family of the victim.
He also urged the suspects in the alleged rape case to surrender the same to police authorities.
Distrito said the city mayor assured them that their rights will be respected, and they will be afforded all the legal remedies that they are entitled to in accordance with the laws and constitution.
Benitez further reminded everyone that, “no matter what, no one has the right to take the life of another, and to put the law in his own hands. That ours is a government of laws and not of men, and therefore we should seek justice through our institution, and not in our means.”/PN
