Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao del Sur Governor Yvonne Cagas each pledged ₱1 million, totaling ₱2 million, for the arrest of the mastermind behind the killing of Barangay Tres de Mayo Captain Oscar Bucol inside his residence in Digos City on Tuesday evening.
Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)-Laban, announced in a press conference that Duterte authorized him to relay the reward offer. Bucol, a PDP-Laban member and known supporter of the Dutertes, was gunned down while live-streaming on Facebook.
Governor Cagas, in a separate press briefing, also offered ₱500,000 for the arrest of the gunman and another ₱500,000 for the mastermind.
“I hope that they will be arrested to stop these incidents. Who will be the next target? I will not allow fear to reign in the province of Davao del Sur,” Cagas said.
Bucol was streaming live while speaking with an elderly man who had returned a lost wallet when gunfire erupted. The broadcast captured Bucol clutching his shoulder before collapsing. He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead from a chest wound.
Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office chief Col. Leo Ajero said investigators are exploring multiple angles, including Bucol’s critical social media posts against local officials. Torreon added that Bucol’s outspoken defense of his constituents may have provoked powerful adversaries.
Bucol’s family has requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel probe alongside the Philippine National Police (PNP). Torreon revealed that Bucol had received death threats prior to the attack but remained undeterred.
The Davao del Sur Police has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to pursue leads, noting that initial assessments point to individuals previously mentioned by Bucol in his online posts. (Keith Bacongco)
