Police probe wanted person’s ‘link’ to cop’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is verifying information allegedly linking a wanted person to the death of an anti-drug operative here two months ago.

Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, acting BCPO director, said yesterday that they could not confirm yet the link of Archelito Dumip-ig to the murder of Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Nepomuceno Jr., who was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants here on Aug 29, 2021.

Police Major Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 1, said there were reports that the recovered motorcycle from Dumip-ig’s rented house in La Carlota City has similarities with the motorcycle used by the cop’s assailants.

However, despite this, Sarona said they need proof that could establish the involvement of Dumip-ig in the crime.

“We need solid evidence na makatudlo na siya or na ma connect sa iya ang natabo,” he added.

Dumip-ig made headlines after he escaped from the authorities who were supposed to serve him an arrest warrant for attempted homicide in La Carlota City last Wednesday.

The intelligence unit of the BCPO led the operation, along with personnel from the regional and local units in the province, after they monitored the presence of Dumip-ig in La Carlota City.

However, Dumip-ig and three to four companions fled through the back portion of the house, following a shootout with policemen early that day.

Police Staff Master Sergeant Aaron Selda, investigator of La Carlota City Police Station, said that an unidentified person from the house allegedly fired at the operatives first while they were approaching the suspect’s house.

The armed encounter injured a police officer.

Selda said two women, who were both initially reported as cooks, were arrested after police recovered from the house several explosives, high-powered firearms, two sachets of suspected shabu, and an improvised tooter.

The two women denied any participation in the incident.

But, Selda noted that they will still be included in the filing of case, as they were inside the house when the incident happened and the recoveries of the guns and explosives.

“I-prove na lang nila sa court na wala sila kahilabtanan,” Selda said.

Selda, meanwhile, said the six minors, who were placed under custody after they were caught inside the house, were released later that day after police confirmed their non-participation in the incident.

Selda said the minors aged 2 to 16 just visited Dumip-ig’s companions when the shootout happened.

Selda said they still have no idea on the whereabouts of Dumip-ig and his companions.

On the other hand, Police Major Roberto Indiape Jr., Calatrava town police chief, said that Dumip-ig’s arrest warrant stemmed from an incident victimizing a barangay councilor at the said town in 2019.

Indiape said they also received information that Dumip-ig was reportedly involved in other crimes in other areas in the province.

Police could not yet confirm if Dumip-ig is part of a syndicate or organized group.