Police utilized Solis’ romantic ties to locate him

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Michael Solis, notorious for the chilling murder of Police Corporal Reo Manero, was elusive.

Despite several police operations, Solis had consistently avoided capture.

However, his freedom was cut short when he was shot and killed on the evening of April 8, just hours after killing Manero, in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

In their pursuit, police officers found an unexpected lead: his romantic involvements.

“Solis had quite a number of girlfriends. That was one of the leads we followed to find him,” revealed Major Jose Rey Pabalan, the Pototan police chief.

It turns out that Solis’ relationships were his Achilles’ heel.

Initially, the police focused their search on Dumangas and Dingle. The break came with a tip-off about another girlfriend in Barangay Sohoton, Barotac Nuevo.

However, Captain Cedrick Cruz, the Barotac Nuevo police chief, clarified that Solis was not found at this woman’s residence. She was neither Solis’ live-in partner, with whom he shared a two-year-old child and a five-month-old infant.

Similarly, Manero left behind two young daughters, aged ten and almost two.

In a Facebook post under the handle Ai Zie, Manero’s wife expressed her grief, wishing the tragic events were only a bad dream.

In a poignant tribute, she sought her husband’s guidance in coming to terms with the tragedy.

“Snappy salute to you for all your accomplishments and dedication to your work,” she wrote.

Ai Zie reflected on the inherent risks of her husband’s profession, sharing that Manero had a profound love for his job despite the dangers.