The tragic incident aboard a Victory Liner bus that claimed two lives has revealed an unexpected development.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the son of the female victim is now under scrutiny as a “person of interest” in the case.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo shed light on the situation during a press briefing on Thursday.

She revealed that a conflict between the victims had escalated to the point where the victim filed a carnapping case against her son.

“Initial investigation indicates this as a possible motive since the conflict and the filing of the case happened before the incident. In fact, this was documented, and the victim’s son is currently out on bail,” Fajardo explained, delivering a mix of Filipino and English.

She mentioned that investigators had conversed with the son, who professed ignorance about the matter.

However, information obtained from the victim’s sibling suggested a perceived threat from the son.

While maintaining the confidentiality of the identities involved, Fajardo disclosed that the victims were longtime live-in partners and business associates.

The female victim hailed from Cauayan, Isabela, while her partner was from Cotabato.

The tragic shooting occurred while they were en route in Carranglan on Wednesday afternoon.

In the pursuit of justice, Fajardo assured the community that law enforcement authorities are meticulously reviewing CCTV footage from nearby locations to trace the suspects.

Moreover, she hinted at the likelihood of the assailants being part of a gun-for-hire group, given the precision exhibited in wielding firearms.

The professional manner in which they handled the weapons has led the police to consider this angle in their investigation.