BCPO links Epogon group to foreigner’s rob-slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police Colonel Henry Biñas, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said Thursday that they are investigating the possible link of the notorious Epogon robbery group to the robbery and death of a Belgian national at Villa Angela, Barangay Villamonte here Wednesday.

Biñas said a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was organized to focus on probing the rob-slay of 76-year-old Carl Nolens.

Biñas said that they have already convened and discussed significant developments and leads on the case, with the help of the Regional Intelligence Division, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco), and Legal Services.

He said they included the RDEU in the SITG because it’s possible that the perpetrators are also involved in illegal drugs.

The Epogon rob group which is based in Cauayan, Negros Occidental has been probably striking again, he added.

Biñas said that some members of the robbery group were arrested and some were even killed, “but they still have remnants and they recruit new members.”

He said they already have persons of interest in Nolens’ case but they need to gather more evidence and statements from the persons inside the house when the incident happened.

Although they cited the possible link of the said robbery group, Biñas said that they will continue to investigate other angles to determine the identities of the perpetrators.