THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has created a task force to investigate the gruesome murder of lawyer Rafael Atotubo who was shot to death by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants at Barangay 20 in Bacolod City on Thursday.
The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) is headed by Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting BCPO director.
It is composed of Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG)-Bacolod, City Intelligence Unit, BCPO legal officer, Investigation and Detection Management Unit (IDMU), Public Information Office, Provincial Crime Laboratory, Provincial Highway Patrol Group, Police Station 4 head Senior Inspector Rey Tolosa Jr. and the case investigator.
Senior Superintendent Christopher Tambungan, deputy regional director for operations of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas is the SITG supervisor.
Tolosa said they convened Friday and discussed the possible escape routes of the assailants.
We have no lead yet on the identities of the perpetrators but copies of closed circuit television (CCTV) footage from nearby establishments are being reviewed, he added.
"We cannot just base our investigation on speculations, we have to base our evidence through facts," Tolosa said.
On August 23, Atotubo, who was a defense lawyer of drug personalities, was gunned down while he was sitting outside of his house, which also serves as a law office. He succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on his left eyebrow.
Police recovered from the scene two fired cartridges of .9mm caliber pistol.
The recovered items will be subjected for cross-matching examination to find out if the assailant's firearm has been used in previous crimes.
Ebreo earlier said they are studying all possible angles on the incident, including his work and business.
The victim's clients are also now being subjected for profiling while the investigation is ongoing.
Police have yet to talk with the victim's family.