CAGAYAN DE ORO — Motives of the recent killings in this city and in the town of Initao, Misamis Oriental were both personal in nature, the top brass of Camp Vicente Alagar confirmed to reporters here yesterday, March 2.
Brigadier Gen. Christopher Abrahano, regional director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office-10 said in a press briefing that investigators have identified a person of interest in the killing of 22-year-old working student Bhea Yna Balus.
Balus was found dead on February 20 inside a room belonging to her board mate along Burgos-Gomez Street in Barangay 7, Cagayan de Oro. A medico-legal examination revealed she sustained multiple stab wounds.
“Our investigation established that the motive is personal in nature. Strong evidence exists against our person of interest, who is now considered our suspect,” Abrahano told reporters.
He added that a murder complaint has been forwarded to the City Prosecutor’s Office for case build-up.
In the same press briefing, Abrahano also confirmed that the February 16 killing of 31-year-old Reyna L. Esquillo in Initao was also fueled by personal motives.
Esquillo, a single parent and businesswoman from Aplaya, Jasaan, succumbed to a gunshot to the head. A child who was with her during the incident sustained a gunshot wound to the neck but managed to escape and later identified the suspect to authorities.
Abrahano said the suspect in the Esquillo case is a politician from outside Northern Mindanao but withheld the name pending legal proceedings.
Charges for murder and frustrated murder are now being prepared for filing before the Prosecutor’s Office.
