Lacson condemns Silay attack; reward raised to PHP 100,000

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday that Negros Occidental condemns the brutal attack on three siblings in Silay City on Feb. 7 that left one child dead.

“What is important now is that there’s already a person of interest, and I believe soon the police will apprehend the person and be made to answer for his action,” Lacson said in a media interview.

Police Lt. Col. Edison Garcia, chief of the Silay City Police Station, said the reward has been raised to PHP 100,000 after former Talisay City Vice Mayor Sam Siote pledged PHP 25,000 for information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.

Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego earlier announced a PHP 25,000 reward, with an additional PHP 50,000 from 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez.

Lacson said the reward is sufficient and that officials want to focus on helping the family, noting the victims’ mother arrived home from Saudi Arabia, where she works, on Sunday night.

“The suspect has been identified. Whatever has been raised is enough,” the governor added.

Lacson said he was saddened by the incident, especially because it happened while the parents were away for work.

He said that even without an order from him, police will act accordingly in cases of this nature.

Garcia said investigators are awaiting the medical examination results from the Scene of the Crime Operatives on the 9-year-old girl who died after being struck with a stone at their home in Barangay E. Lopez.

He said the results could take about three weeks because they are being processed at the national headquarters.

Garcia also said a hospital test on the 14-year-old victim initially came back negative for sexual assault, but he stressed the finding remains unofficial pending the official results.

Police said the three siblings were alone at home when an unidentified person attacked them.

Authorities said the incident was discovered when the children’s father visited them Saturday, as he works in Bacolod City.

Police are collecting evidence and witness statements as they work to identify and locate the suspect.