The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has turned over the investigation to the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) team after a ranking police official was found dead in his home in Barangay Handumanan on Tuesday morning, May 19.
The victim was identified as Police Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Vargas, the head of the City Administrative and Resource Management Unit (CARMU).
According to reports, a concerned citizen alerted the Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAG) in Handumanan regarding the incident. Upon arrival, responders discovered Vargas inside his room, bloodied and dressed in civilian attire.
Bacolod City Police Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia confirmed that the official sustained a gunshot wound, which is currently being investigated as the possible cause of death.
The investigation has been turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) unit to determine if there was any foul play involved in the incident.
Col. Rebadomia expressed his condolences, describing Lt. Col. Vargas as a hardworking and soft-spoken officer. The two had last been together during the recent visit of the NAPOLCOM Commissioner to the BCPO headquarters.
Vargas was nearing the end of a distinguished 33-year career in the police service. He was scheduled to retire at the age of 56 on October 8, 2026. Under standard procedures, he was set to enter Non-Duty Status on July 8, having been granted a three-month window to process his retirement documentation.
