BACOLOD CITY – The police here might look into the wealth record of slain jail officer Jayvee Vargas amid allegations that he is involved in the illegal drug trade, an angle that is emerging as the “strongest,” according to a spokesman here.
Probers of the murder will also coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to know if Vargas was included in the agency’s intelligence reports recently or in the past as a protector or peddler of illegal drugs, city police spokesman, Lt. Col. Ariel Pico told DNX.
Pico said the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of Vargas could help determine if the murdered officer was earning more than his legitimate income as a government employee and as a businessman.
The problem, however, is access to the document that is considered a “personal” file, Pico said.
A SALN is an annual requirement for government employees in which they declare their sources of income, personal assets, businesses and debts that will determine their wealth.
Pico also told DNX that of the four angles police are probing into, personal, work, business, and drugs, the last one is emerging as the strongest so far.
He did not offer details yet why.
Asked if they have already checked with PDEA, the lead agency in the anti-drug campaign as designated by President Duterte, Pico said they have yet to coordinate with it.
Vargas is the latest officer alleged to have links with the illegal drug trade who has been killed in this city.
