P1M offered for leads in S. Cotabato vice mayoral aspirant’s murder

JUSTICE SOUGHT. South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Peter Miguel (center, in cap) announces on Monday (Nov. 18, 2024) a P1-million reward for information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the murder of vice mayoral aspirant Jose Osorio of Tantangan, South Cotabato. The police continue to search for leads in the case. (Photo courtesy of DXOM Radio Koronadal)

KORONADAL CITY – South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Peter Miguel has offered a P1-million reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for the murder of Tantangan vice mayoral aspirant Jose Osorio.

Miguel announced the reward Monday afternoon, as police continue to search for leads in the case.

On Tuesday, the South Cotabato Police formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to expedite the investigation into Osorio’s killing on the evening of Nov. 17.

Osorio, a former barangay chairperson and candidate for vice mayor in next year’s elections, was found dead early the following morning in a pool of blood at his family’s roadside eatery in Barangay Bukay Pait.

Col. Samuel Cadungon, South Cotabato police director, said the SITG-Osorio would focus on identifying and charging both the attackers and the mastermind.

Relatives of the 58-year-old victim said Osorio had no known enemies. The police consider personal grudges or election-related motives as possible angles in the investigation.

Cadungon said Osorio had not received death threats before the attack.

Initial findings revealed that Osorio’s wife and their house help had not heard gunfire around 10 p.m., when the killing was believed to have occurred.

Osorio was the running mate of former Mayor Benjamin Figueroa in the upcoming elections and had served three terms as chairperson of Barangay Bukay Pait. (PNA)