By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police are intensifying their investigation into the brutal killing of a family of three in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, May 1, to determine the motive.
Police Col. Rainerio De Chavez, provincial director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), strongly condemned the attack, which he described as an isolated case.
“We are condemning this brutal and senseless act,” De Chavez said in a statement.
He assured the public that community safety and security remain a top priority, especially during this critical period.
The Murcia Municipal Police Station is coordinating closely with Nocppo’s Investigation and Detective Management Unit for a thorough probe into the deaths of Neldi Celayes, 59, a farmer; his wife Josephine, 60; and their son Jovie, 33, a farm worker.
The victims were killed at their home in Sitio Guinam-an, Barangay Buenavista, a remote area about 20 kilometers from the town center.
Their bodies, all with gunshot wounds, were found near a well by a local resident on May 1.
Police said land dispute is among the possible motives being explored, and persons of interest have been identified based on interviews with the victims’ relatives.
De Chavez said additional police resources and investigative support have been deployed to help Murcia police resolve the case and bring justice to the victims.
The provincial police urged the public to stay calm, cooperate with authorities, and report any suspicious activity or information that could aid the investigation.
Authorities remain committed to pursuing all leads and restoring peace in the area.
