The police have leads on the killing of Ilog Councilor Antonio “Karem” Gequillana in Bacolod City but are withholding details so as not to hamper the ongoing investigation, Bacolod Deputy Police Director, Supt. Santiago Rapiz, said yesterday.

One of the persons in the rogue's gallery of the Bacolod City Police Office and the sketch of Gequillana's gunman have a resemblance, Rapiz, who heads “Task Force Gequillana”, said.

But while they have monitored the arrival of a gun-for-hire group in Negros Occidental, they can not directly link them to the killing of Gequillana, Rapiz added.

The police have three witnesses who can identify the killer, and have recovered Gequillana's cellular phone, which could have information that could help them resolve the case, he said.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. yesterday said that that provincial government is not putting up any reward for the arrest of Gequillana's killer.

“For me there is no need to give a reward, it is not very important,” he said, noting that a police investigation is already ongoing.

“Besides that, I have other reasons not to give (the reward),” the governor said, but did not elaborate.

On Thursday, the governor had said he was mulling the possibility of giving a reward but would have to consult the police.

Gequillana, 42, of Brgy. Dangcalan, Ilog in Negros Occidental and also a resident of Capitolville in Brgy. Villamonte, was shot five times in the back outside the East View Hotel in Bacolod City on Wednesday.*APN

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