FEBRUARY 3, 2026 — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has dangled a P1-million reward for anyone who can help capture Julian Salamat and his cohorts — the men accused of brutally killing PSSgt. Renato Casauay Jr., whose body was dumped inside a septic tank in Malolos, Bulacan. 

CCTV footage shows Casauay entering a compound in Barangay Mojon. Minutes later, gunshots rang out. Soon after, Salamat — ironically a police “asset” — was seen leaving the alley. Investigators say Casauay’s last police operation, which netted 50 grams of illegal drugs, may have triggered the attack. 

PBGen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. explained, “Nung December 24, may operations si Casauay na nagreresult sa 50 grams [ng droga] na parang kasama sa operations nitong si Salamat. Ang words nila, nagiging problema na ‘to. ‘Yung naging motivation.” 

(On December 24, Casauay had an operation that resulted in 50 grams [of drugs] which seemed connected to Salamat’s operations. Their words were, this was becoming a problem. That was the motivation.)

But here’s where it gets even more disturbing: PCpl. Vivencio Abalos, a cop himself, allegedly concealed the crime instead of arresting Salamat. 

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed, “Julian Salamat, together with another witness, went to Corporal Abalos. Binanggit niya lahat ng pangyayari. So, nadiskubre natin ‘yan, January 30 na, so makikita mo dito ‘yung talagang deliberate ‘yung pag-conceal ni Abalos noong insidente.” 

(Julian Salamat, together with another witness, went to Corporal Abalos. He mentioned everything that happened. We discovered this only on January 30, so you can see here the deliberate concealment of the incident by Abalos.)

Think about that: a police officer acting as a consultant for Salamat’s group, the so-called Black Rider Force Multiplier. Instead of protecting the public, he allegedly protected the killers. 

Makes one wonder: how many more “assets” are hiding behind the badge, playing both sides of the law?

Authorities have already arrested four suspects, including the house owner where the crime happened and those who helped bury Casauay in that septic tank. Two even confessed to cleaning the crime scene. Yet Salamat and six others remain free. Hence the million-peso bounty.

Remulla tried to reassure the public: “Ang bawat buhay ng pulis ay mahalaga sa amin. Hindi namin pinapamenos kung may nangyari sa aming kapulisan. ‘Yung mga ganitong klaseng bagay ay hindi natin pwedeng palusutin.” 

(Every policeman’s life is important to us. We do not diminish it when something happens to our police. These kinds of things cannot be allowed to pass.)

So if insiders are shielding criminals, how deep does the rot go? And will a million pesos be enough to break the silence?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)