DUMAGUETE CITY – The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) has created a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe the murder of a barangay official in Bayawan City whose death is believed linked to the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Provincial police director Col. Jonathan Pineda told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that the SITG, which he chairs, also includes other investigating units such as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province.
He said it was created on Oct. 23 as directed by the regional police office but was officially announced Tuesday.
“We have created the SITG to fast-track the investigation considering that the victim is a barangay official and we have tapped other units so that whatever evidence is gathered, we can collaborate for the immediate resolution of the crime,” Pineda said in mixed English and Filipino.
On Oct. 21, Diosdado Petiluna Gemina, 52, a barangay councilor of San Miguel, Bayawan City, was riding his motorcycle when he was shot in Sitio Cabcacon, Barangay Banga by unidentified suspects on a motorcycle.(PNA)
