Duterte raises bounty to P3M to capture killers of Negros cops
MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday raised to P3 million the bounty for the capture of those behind the brutal killing of four policemen in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
The government initially set the reward at P1 million but Duterte, after his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, raised the bounty to P1.3 million and eventually to P2 million.
He again raised the reward to P3 million during his meeting with local chief executives on Tuesday.
Police have identified 11 suspected members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) who are believed to be behind the killing of four police intelligence officers in the province.
The chairman of Barangay Mabato, who was also being investigated in connection with the killing, reportedly took his own life by drinking pesticide.
READ: Duterte raises bounty for killers of Negros cops
READ: Negros Oriental cops probing reason for village chair to drink pesticide
“‘Yung pagkamatay ng (mga) pulis na pinaghahampas nila, agrabyado ako. So galit ako. Ngayon may pakana sila na‘yung nag lead daw ng grupo ngayon…he committed suicide. Binobola ako, sabi ko bring me the head,” Duterte said in his speech at the inauguration of the Candon City Bypass Road in the province of Ilocos Sur.
“The other night before the governors and mayors, I said I’m raising it to P2 million. Now nandito ako I’m raising it to P3 million. Dalhin mo lang ‘yung ulo ng put****** okay na sa akin,” he added.
Previous police reports identified the four slain officers as Cpl. Relebert Beronio, Pat. Raffy Callao, Pat. Roel Cabellon, and Pat. Marquino de Leon, all personnel of the 704th Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 assigned in Negros Oriental.
The officers were reportedly on their way to the house of an informant to verify reports that members of the NPA are present in the area when they were attacked by armed men.
Communist guerrillas have already admitted they were behind the killing of the policemen. /jpv
READ: NPA owns up what police say was brutal killing of 4 cops
READ: PNP identifies 11 suspects in murder of 4 Negros Oriental cops
