PNP chief orders probe on cop’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has tasked the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 to thoroughly investigate the killing of a policeman assigned to the anti-illegal drug unit here.

Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Nepomuceno Jr. 37, of Barangay 14 here, was gunned down by two unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects along Rosario Street, Barangay 38 here last Sunday.

The local police are looking into retaliation related to Nepomuceno’s work as a member of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) that arrested high value individuals as possible motive in the incident.

“Umaasa ako na agad magkakaroon ng linaw ang motibo sa pagpaslang at di magtatagal ay matutukoy ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga salarin,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar also urged witnesses to the crime and persons who may have information to come forward and help police investigators to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Nakikiramay ako sa mga kaanak ng biktima at tinitiyak ko na mabibigyan ng katarungan ang kanyang pagkamatay,” Eleazar said.

Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 personally expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of Nepomuceno during his visit to their residence in Barangay 14 yesterday.

Miranda was accompanied by Police Colonel Allan Nobleza, deputy regional director for administration of PRO-6, Police Colonel Manuel Placido, BCPO director, and Police Major Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 1.

Miranda assured the victim’s family of swift and decisive action in serving of justice to Nepomuceno who is survived by his partner and child.

The regional headquarters also extended P50,000 financial assistance to Nepomuceno’s family.

In a media interview, Nepomuceno’s partner Janet Frias remembered him as a good and hardworking man. The couple has been together for 11 years.

Frias is also calling for justice for her partner’s death.

“Tani as soon as possible matagaan man siya justice, ka mayo na nga tawo ang (bana) ko, mabinuligon, pisan, wala gid sila kaluoy,” an emotional Frias said.

Police Lieutenant Edward Bolivar, CDEU head, said that Nepomuceno was assigned to monitor drug personalities.

Bolivar appealed to the perpetrators to surrender to the authorities as they are conducting investigation to determine the person behind the incident.

Despite the incident, Bolivar said they will continue to run after drug peddlers, and intensify more their campaign against illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Miranda also visited the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here to lead the team of evaluators from PRO-6 as Nocppo and the BCPO underwent Integrated Transformation Program – Performance Governance System (ITP-PGS) Proficiency Evaluation Process (PEP) Performance Audit.

The ITP-PGS PEP is the third step in the transformation journey of Nocppo after the Initiation stage and the Compliance Stage were completed in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

The PEP is divided in two parts, the Performance Audit and Revalida.

The Performance Audit, which started on August 31 until September 3, included the documents review, site visits, and personnel interview.