THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) XI believed that the assailants of Barangay Tres De Mayo Chairman Oscar “Dodong” Bucol Jr. have ties to the government.
Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security press conference held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Jan. 7, NBI XI spokesperson Elias Leañio Jr. described the killing as a “classic, well-planned, and well-organized” operation, so solving it remains challenging.
Bucol was shot dead in Digos City on Nov. 25, 2025, while broadcasting live on Facebook.
Parallel investigation
Leañio clarified that the NBI entered the case following a formal request from the Bucol family, despite the initial activation of a special investigation task group (SITG).
“Normally, the police are the first responders. To avoid overlapping functions, we initially allowed local police to lead,” Leañio explained. “However, the aggrieved family requested the NBI to step in. We are now conducting a parallel investigation with the ultimate goal of achieving an early solution for the late Kapitan Bucol.”
The ‘signature’ of the assailants
The NBI highlighted the sophisticated nature of the crime, specifically pointing to the use of high-powered firearms and “sniping” tactics.
“We believe they are connected with the government, but we cannot simply name names without hard evidence,” Leañio said.
“The way the crime was executed has a corresponding ‘signature.’ Sniping is a specialized skill; in the Davao Region, only a few individuals—mostly in law enforcement or highly trained gun aficionados—are capable of such activity.”
He noted that despite a massive ₱5.5 million bounty, no witnesses have come forward, suggesting the suspects may have the influence to keep informants silent.
“If these were ordinary criminals, someone would have reported them for that amount of money. But because of the government connection, people are hesitant,” he added.
The investigation has narrowed down to just two primary targets from several persons of interest (POIs).
“We are applying for a cyber warrant to check the communication trails of these POIs,” Leañio said. “The moment we establish a linkage—showing these individuals were in communication before and after the crime—we will have a huge lead.”
Leañio also mentioned a potential link to a reported “lost firearm” involving an official in Davao del Sur. While the firearm matched the high-powered caliber used in the sniping, he cautioned that further verification is needed to determine if there is a direct connection to the murder.
Search for the mastermind
While the NBI has identified the path used by the suspects to exit the crime scene—traversing through Kapatagan and likely exiting via Baracatan—the vehicle and the exact identity of the gunman remain elusive.
“We have ideas, but we cannot link them yet,” Leañio admitted. “We need objective evidence and the certainty of conviction before filing. We are nearing the truth, but we must bridge the gap between our leads and the hard evidence required by the prosecutor.”
The NBI assured the Bucol family that they remain in constant contact and are committed to unmasking the perpetrators, although they declined to provide a specific timeline for the case’s resolution.
