• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A retiring police colonel was found dead inside his residence at Zone 11, Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City on Tuesday, May 19.
The fatality, identified as PLt. Col. Romeo Vargas, 55, is the chief of Administrative and Resource Management Unit of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Vargas, who was set to retire from police service in October this year, used to serve as head of the Iloilo City Police Office Mobile Force Company and chief of Himamaylan City Police Station in Negros Occidental.
Police report said he was found by his daughter around 8 a.m., lying on the floor of his room covered in blood.
Vargas’ daughter last saw her father at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday before they went to sleep.
The following morning, she was alarmed after noticing that her father’s motorcycle was still parked outside.
She checked on him and found him on the floor unresponsive.
The assistance of BCPO Forensic Unit and Scene of the Crime Operations has been tapped for the crime scene processing and examination.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said that a thorough and impartial investigation is being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding Vargas’ death.
“PLt. Col. Vargas dedicated years of service to the Philippine National Police with commitment and professionalism and his passing is deeply felt within the police organization and the community he served,” the PRO-NIR said.
Authorities also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information or speculation out of respect for the police officer’s family while the investigation is ongoing. | GB
