DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — Authorities have filed a murder case against a man who earlier gained public attention for returning a wallet to slain Barangay Tres de Mayo chairman Oscar “Dodong” Bucol Jr., linking him to the shocking killing that was captured during a social media livestream late last year.
According to Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) Regional Director Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Rosete, the suspect identified as Silvestre “Beting” Derecho has been formally charged with murder along with three other unidentified accomplices in connection with the fatal shooting of Bucol.
Rosete confirmed that the Bucol family filed the formal complaint on February 27, 2026, nearly three months after the village chief was assassinated.
Bucol, the chairman of Barangay Tres de Mayo in Digos City, was shot dead on the evening of November 25, 2025, while he was livestreaming on social media from the garage of his home. The brazen attack shocked viewers who witnessed the shooting unfold online.
Investigators said Derecho was the same man who earlier appeared in Bucol’s livestream after returning a wallet and identification cards to the barangay captain shortly before the killing. Authorities now suspect that the act may have been part of a planned setup linked to the attack.
Police said evidence gathered by investigators led to the filing of the murder charges against Derecho and his alleged accomplices.
According to police reports, one of the suspects, believed to be working with Derecho, shot Bucol using a high-powered firearm inside the compound of his residence, killing the barangay official in front of online viewers.
The killing quickly went viral on social media, triggering public outrage and calls for justice as the video circulated widely online.
Despite the filing of charges, three other suspects remain unidentified and at large, and authorities said the investigation is continuing to determine the possible mastermind behind the assassination.
PRO-11 said law enforcement units are intensifying efforts to locate and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the crime.
Meanwhile, Bucol’s family expressed relief that the case has moved forward.
Jay Caren Bucol, the brother of the slain village chief, said they decided to pursue the charges after carefully reviewing the circumstances and evidence surrounding the case.
He also expressed gratitude to the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Bucol and the police for their persistent efforts in investigating the killing.
Jay Caren renewed the family’s call for justice, saying they will continue to seek accountability for those responsible for taking the life of his brother.
“Our fight is not only for justice for Dodong,” he said in a media interview. “His future, his life, his family, and his rights were taken away.”
Authorities assured the public that the investigation remains ongoing as they continue to track down the other suspects and identify those who may have orchestrated the attack.