Vice President Sara Duterte has offered a P1-million reward for information that could identify the mastermind behind the killing of Barangay Tres de Mayo Captain Oscar “Dodong” Bucol Jr., her legal counsel, lawyer Israelito Torreon, confirmed on Wednesday.
Torreon said he was personally authorized by the vice president to make the announcement.
“May authorization ako galing kay VP Sara na i-reveal sa publiko na nag-commit siya ng P1 million para matukoy kung sino ang mastermind sa pagpatay kay Kapitan Dodong Bucol,” Torreon told reporters.
Bucol, a known supporter of the Duterte family who maintained ties with the PDP–Laban party of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was shot multiple times on Tuesday night while livestreaming on Facebook. The attack happened inside his garage at around 9 p.m., with portions of the incident captured on video.
He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Earlier reports indicated that Bucol had been voicing concerns about the P20-million EcoPark project in Digos City shortly before he was killed. However, authorities have yet to establish whether this is connected to the attack.
Police have launched a province-wide manhunt for the gunmen and have identified several persons of interest, including individuals previously mentioned by the victim in his social media posts.
A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) is being formed to lead a more focused probe. Investigators are also collecting CCTV footage and pursuing multiple leads as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office condemned the “brutal” killing and assured Bucol’s family that all possible efforts are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may help accelerate the case.
Bucol’s killing has sparked widespread outrage online, prompting renewed calls for accountability and a thorough, transparent investigation.
