THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is planning to form a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to focus on probing the slay of human rights activist Zara Alvarez, who was shot to death by unidentified assailant on Sta. Maria Street, Eroreco Subdivision, Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City Monday evening, August 17, 2020.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, said Wednesday that Colonel Henry Binas, director of BCPO, already ordered the Investigation and Detection Management Unit (IDMU) to evaluate if the killing of Alvarez will qualify for the creation of SITG.
"The IDMU will evaluate the incident if it will qualify for the creation of the SITG that will be composed of BCPO investigation team and other government agencies," he said.
He added the recommendation for the creation of SITG will be forwarded to the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas.
Alvarez, 39, of Cadiz City, a member of human rights group Karapatan-Negros and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program (NIHIP), was on her way to her boarding house when an unidentified assailant fired at her around 7:30 p.m.
The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot.
The gunman, who was wearing face mask and ballcap, fled toward a north direction of Eroreco Subdivision, along with his unidentified companion who was on board a motorcycle.
The police are looking into personal grudge or work-related as possible motives in the killing of the victim.
Pico said Police Station 3 is facing difficulty in identifying the perpetrators since the area has no security cameras.
He said the two companions of the victim, one of them a minor, also failed to identify the gunman because it was raining and the area was too dark.
