The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) is determined to speed up the investigation of the alleged politically motivated strafing incident in Loay town which involved the attack of William Solera, a known Liberal Party (LP) leader in the area, to avoid the suspicion of partiality.

“We are pressuring the Chief of Police to speed up the investigation to avoid suspicion of partiality or the probe will be tainted with the color of politics”, BPPO Information Officer, Police Superintendent Ricky Deliles said.

Police investigating the strafing incident in Barangay Tocdog Dacu, Loay is seriously looking into the possibility of the unprovoked attack of Solera as “politically motivated”.

Deliles told DYRD “Inyong Alagad” this morning, Tuesday, May 3, 2016 that “we are trying to look into the motive of the shooting since this involves a supporter of the LP”.

The identities of the armed men who strafed a sari-sari store where Solera was hiding are still unknown as witnesses of the shooting are still reeling from the incident and are refusing to talk to the police, sources told DYRD Balita on condition of anonymity.

Proof of the shooting were empty shells recovered from the scene by the police fired from 9MM, armalite rifles and caliber 45 handguns, according to Deliles.

DYRD Balita also learned that Solera was pushed to the ground, kicked and mauled after he went out of the sari sari store, hands raised where he was hiding to avoid further violence from the armed men.

According to sources, Solera has not filed any complaint before police authorities further delaying the results of the investigation headed by Loay Police Chief, Police Inspector Erenieto Peniza.

Police manpower has been beefed up by a nine man augmentation force from the military with an additional team expected to arrive anytime.

Three candidates are vying for the mayoralty seat in Loay with municipal councilor Richelle Bridgette Imboy of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Laban (PDP-Laban), municipal councilor Jescelo Adiong of the LP and Independent Lemuel Baliwis.

Imboy is the daughter of 3rd term Mayor Rosemarie Imboy who is running for governor while her husband, Board Member Brigido Imboy is teaming up with their daughter as her vice mayor.

According to Deliles, parallel investigations are now ongoing involving the Loay Police Station and the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch (PIDMB) headed by Police Superintendent Patricio Degay. (Chito Visarra)