Manhunt on for Calbayog City massacre suspects

PALO, LEYTE — Police are tracking down the suspects implicated in the massacre of members of the Regalacion family in Calbayog City, Samar the other day.

Police Regional Office-8 Regional Director Chief Superintendent Asher Dolina said the perpetrators of the gruesome crime last Tuesday in Barangay Victory have already been identified.

Dolina, however, refused to name the suspects so as not to jeopardize ongoing pursuit operations.

Initial investigation showed that the Regalacion residence was strafed by the suspects with M-16 rifles, instantly killing five members of the family.

The fatalities were identified as Sonny Regalacion, 48, the family patriarch, his wife Adela, 48, their two daughters Princess Joy, 5, and Angela Mae, 2 and the sister of Sonny, Christina, 26.

Two neighbors of the Regalacions were also wounded during the attack and are now being treated at a hospital in Calbayog City.

Dolina said investigators are looking at the vengeance angle, although other possible motives are likewise being considered.

It was learned that the Regalacion patriarch’s son, Marlo, was involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Langoyon in July last year, which resulted in the death of two individuals.

Another angle being looked into is the elder Regalacion’s involvement in politics. He was said to be one of the political leaders and supporters of municipal and provincial politicians.