Police eye mistaken identity in Bacolod driver slay

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police are exploring the possibility that the killing of a driver in broad daylight in Barangay Taculing on Sunday may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Police Lt. Meller Dionio, public information officer of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the 59-year-old victim, identified only as “Efren,” a resident of Barangay Granada, had a clean record based on a background check.

This was supported by statements from the victim’s family, he added.

Dionio said investigators obtained closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing a black vehicle stopping outside a church as the victim stood by the roadside preparing to cross the street.

However, due to the abrupt nature of the incident, authorities were unable to clearly capture the car’s license plate.

He said police are looking for additional CCTV footage that may offer other angles to help with the investigation.

Police are also considering the possibility that the killing may have been motivated by a personal grudge.

Based on the initial investigation, the victim had just exited the church shortly before noon when an unidentified assailant in a black sports utility vehicle (SUV) stopped nearby and shot him.

Dionio said there is no lead yet on the identity of the perpetrators.