Police eye drug link in Talisay City killings

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Police are not ruling out the possibility that the deaths of two men whose bodies were found in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, last week may be drug-related.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Police Lt. Ramon Juablar, deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, confirmed that another victim was identified by his family on Friday, three days after police identified the first victim as “Dodoy,” 47, of Barangay Estefania here.

The latest victim, known by the alias “Kokoy,” 41, of San Enrique, Negros Occidental, was identified by his eldest sibling. Kokoy was the first of three bodies discovered in two villages of Talisay City on Aug. 11.

According to Juablar, Kokoy’s sibling told investigators that the victim had a history of drug use and was also linked to theft cases. The family had not seen him for several years after he left home.

Juablar said Kokoy was last seen with Dodoy when they left the latter’s residence late Sunday night, according to the account of Dodoy’s live-in partner.

Kokoy’s body was discovered the following morning, while Dodoy’s was found that afternoon in a sugarcane field in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City.

Juablar added that Kokoy had asked Dodoy to take him to Barangay Banago here the night before their bodies were discovered. Authorities are now tracing the owner of a motorcycle recovered in Dodoy’s possession.

Further investigation revealed that Dodoy had previously faced drug and murder charges and was jailed at New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. He was released in 2023 and had also survived a previous stabbing incident in Barangay Estefania.

Juablar said there were indications of gunshot wounds on both victims, but this will be confirmed through autopsy results.

While police are considering illegal drugs as a motive, they are also exploring other angles, including personal grudges.

A Special Investigation Task Group convened last Thursday to review the case’s progress. Juablar confirmed that the families of both victims are cooperating with investigators.

Meanwhile, authorities are still working to identify a third decomposing body found in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City.

Talisay City Mayor Rowena “Weng” Lizares recently met with Police Lt. Col. Alvin Chris Baybayan, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, to discuss the investigation.

In a Facebook post, Lizares assured the public that the local government is working closely with law enforcement to ensure safety and urged residents to report any suspicious activity.

Police Col. Rainerio De Chavez, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, also stressed continued coordination with local government units and urged the installation of additional CCTV cameras to help prevent similar incidents.

Caption: Mayor Rowena “Weng” Lizares meets with Police Lt. Col. Alvin Chris Baybayan, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, to discuss the investigation into three bodies found in two villages of Talisay City, Negros Occidental. (Photo via Atty. Weng Lizares Facebook)