POLICE investigators at Malaybalay City Police Office are now determining the motive behind the killing of a banana farm manager who was found dead last Saturday at 6 pm.
Police Lt. Julius Clark Frisco Macariola, Malaybalay City Police Station commander, identified the victim as Roger Balista, 46, married, and a resident of Tagum, Davao del Norte.
He was a manager of Dole North Skyland of Bukidnon Provincial Cluster.
Balista, who was temporarily residing at Purok 1, Barangay Kalasungay of the said city, was found lying face down in front of his vehicle, a Toyota Hi-Lux with plate no. NAX-3296.
Prior to the discovery, police had received a phone call from a concerned citizen informing them that an unidentified person was seen dead at Purok 14, Gabunan, Barangay Casisang of the same city with a lone gunshot wound on the back of his head.
In an ocular inspection, the responding police found a .9mm pistol (black widow brand) on the right hand of the victim and it was covered with a handkerchief.
The said firearm was loaded with a fired cartridge case and four unfired ammunition of the same caliber.
Police did not see any slugs or fired cartridges at the crime scene but they noticed tire skid marks presumably from the victim’s vehicle.
The victim’s personal belongings were still intact.
In an investigation, it was learned that prior to the incident, at about 4:41 am on the same date, the victim was seen leaving the staff house located at Purok 1, Barangay Kalasungay.
He was supposedly heading to the company’s processing plant at Sitio Gabunan, Casisang, Malaybalay City on board his service vehicle.
Malaybalay police are still conducting a deeper investigation in coordination with the Provincial Forensic Unit.
