By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating the motives behind the killings of two truck drivers found dead in separate areas of Negros Occidental on Thursday.
The first victim, identified as alias “Mar Jun,” 36, of Barangay Old Sagay, Sagay City, was discovered by a farmer at around 6 a.m. The farmer found him lying face down while walking toward a sugarcane plantation at Hacienda Santa Maria 1, Barangay Zone 15, Talisay City.
Initial findings revealed that the victim sustained gunshot wounds to the left chest and temple.
An empty cartridge case was recovered from the scene, though the firearm used remains unknown.
More than an hour later, at around 7:35 a.m., the body of Armando Sepocado, 39, also from Sagay City, was found inside his white flatbed truck at Hacienda Masulog, Barangay Haguimit, La Carlota City.
Investigations revealed that Sepocado had gunshot wounds to his head and right thigh.
Recovered from the truck were a slug, three spent shells from a .45 caliber firearm, a sachet of suspected shabu, and an improvised tooter.
Police Major Jun Ray Batadlan, deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, confirmed that the two incidents are connected.
However, Batadlan declined to disclose further details to avoid compromising the investigation.
Police Capt. Rosinie Cabuena, deputy chief of the La Carlota City Police Station, said Sepocado left their office at around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, heading to the Bredco port in Bacolod City to travel to Manila to collect materials.
His body was found the next morning.
Cabuena added that it is unclear whether the two victims were together en route to the port or if they met midway.
La Carlota City is approximately 60 kilometers from Talisay City, and police are investigating how the victims ended up in different locations.
When asked about the suspected shabu recovered from Sepocado, Cabuena said it is uncertain whether the drugs belonged to the victim or were left by the perpetrators.
The police are considering all possible motives and are coordinating closely with the Talisay City Police Station to advance the investigation.
