Shadow

Suspected Negros drug group leader found dead in Rizal

Rizal PNP photo

A suspected drug group leader in Negros Occidental was found dead in Rizal province on Wednesday, the police reported Friday, May 21.

Killed was Michael Divinagracia, the alleged leader of the Divinagracia drug group in Silay City.

His body, along with an unidentified man, was discovered along the highway at Barangay Pinugay in Baras town.

Lt. Col. Robert Petate, Silay police chief, said that they closely coordinated with the Baras Police Station for the identification of the victim.

He said Divinagracia’s driver’s license was found on his body and that his photos also matched their records.

The have yet to talk to Divinagracia’s family regarding the transport of the cadaver from Luzon, Petate said.

Petate said that the victim had an arrest warrant for drugs that was issued in 2020, but it was not served after they received information that Divinagracia had left the province for Luzon.

He said the neutralization of Divinagracia will have a big impact in terms of the drug supply delivered to the province, including Bacolod City.

Their recent drug operations and arrests were linked to the Divinagracia group, he said.

He also said that the source of drugs could be from Luzon. The supply continued to come in even if Divinagracia had already left the province, Petate said.

A P500,000 reward – P300,000 from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Police and P200,000 from the Silay City government – was earlier offered to those who could lead to the capture of Divinagracia.

Petate said that the investigation into the death of Divinagracia is still ongoing.

Silay City Mayor Mark Golez welcomed the development, saying that the incident will serve as a lesson to other drug suspects to stop engaging in the illegal trade.

The mayor said that the release of the reward will be based on the result of the police investigation.*

Secured By miniOrangeSecured By miniOrange